What is the NAOS strategy?
In 2005, the NAOS Strategy (Strategy for Nutrition, Physical Activity and
the Prevention of Obesity) was set up by the Ministry of Health and Consumer
Affairs, through the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN), with
the aim of making the population more aware of the problems obesity means for
health, and of promoting any initiatives that help to encourage citizens,
particularly children and young people, to adopt healthy lifestyles, mainly
through healthy diets and regular physical activity. The NAOS Strategy aims to serve as a platform for any actions which help to
meet this objective, by joining forces with, and with the widest possible
participation of, all components of society, Public Administrations, experts in
the field, private sector businesses, consumers and the whole population.
Therefore, the scope and areas of action and influence of the NAOS Strategy are
multiple: families, schools, the business world and the health system. The NAOS Strategy has placed Spain in a notable position among other
countries thanks to major dynamic efforts in meeting the challenge of
counteracting the obesity epidemic. This was recognised by the European
regional office of the World Health Organisation, when, during the Ministerial
Conference held in Istanbul in November 2006, the NAOS Strategy was awarded a
prize for the way in which it tackled collaboration between public
administrations and private social agents. The European Union has also
repeatedly invited the Ministry and the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and
Nutrition to speak at its various forums and explain their experiences in the
development of the Strategy.
Further information
NAOS Strategy
NAOS Strategy (english version)
