Parliament speaker Mihaela Dotsova has called on lawmakers and the government to keep up a long-term fight against obesity, with all interested parties, local authorities and civil groups taking part. She spoke at a round table on preventing and managing obesity.
The round table, "Effective policies for preventing and managing obesity", was part of a special session of parliament's health committee. The Coalition Against Obesity "Health Under Pressure" organised it.
Dotsova said Bulgaria is near the top of the rankings for obesity among children and older people. She called it a severe, chronic disease with a heavy social and economic cost, which can lead to heart and blood vessel disease, diabetes and other illnesses. She said prevention matters most, and that discussing the issue is a responsibility, because the effects are very serious.
Dotsova said those directly affected by the disease must be heard above all.
"Today's forum is proof that some issues have no political colour," she said. "I am glad we again have a chance to show cross-party agreement," the speaker added.
The Council of Ministers has already approved the national programme for preventing chronic non-communicable diseases for 2026-2030. It includes steps against heart and blood vessel disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease, as well as specific solutions.