One in four children in Albania starts the day without eating breakfast, despite it being considered the most important meal of the day. Data from a study conducted by the Institute of Public Health shows that children who skip breakfast are more likely to develop weight problems, including overweight and obesity.
The European report that analyzes the health behaviors of school-age children ranks Albania among the countries with high consumption of fruits and vegetables among young people, a positive indicator for eating habits.
However, specialists emphasize that, in addition to proper nutrition, physical activity and limiting screen time are equally important. These factors directly affect the reduction of overweight and obesity, which continue to be growing challenges globally.
According to the latest data, about 1 in 10 children aged 5–19 years live with obesity, exposing them to increased health risks, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer.
