This Action Plan for Reducing the Growth of Overweight and Obesity (2025–2029) responds to the persistently high and rising prevalence of overweight and obesity in the country, which significantly exceeds the EU average and contributes to non communicable diseases, premature mortality, reduced quality of life, and substantial economic losses. The Plan frames obesity as a complex, multifactorial disease influenced by diet, physical inactivity, psychosocial factors, environmental conditions, and stigma, with impacts beginning early in life and extending across the life course.
The Plan sets a strategic objective to halt the increase in overweight and obesity through coordinated cross sectoral action, structured around three prevention levels: primary (healthy diet and physical activity promotion), secondary (early detection and weight gain prevention), and tertiary (diagnosis, treatment, and long term management). Key measures include improving food environments and nutrition literacy, introducing clearer food labelling, restricting unhealthy food marketing (especially to children), expanding opportunities for physical activity in communities, schools, workplaces, and healthcare settings, and addressing weight stigma. It also emphasizes early life interventions, such as breastfeeding promotion, support for pregnant women, parental education, and school based health promotion.
On the healthcare side, the plan prioritizes better diagnosis and treatment of obesity by equipping healthcare professionals with standardized algorithms, training, and tools, expanding access to state funded nutrition counseling, and scaling up multidisciplinary weight management programs for both children and adults, including regional services. Pilot initiatives are proposed for adult weight management clinics, medication reimbursement in severe cases, and bariatric surgery pathways. The Plan includes defined targets for 2029 (e.g., reduced prevalence of overweight, higher physical activity rates, and wider use of treatment services), dedicated monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and a multi year financing framework combining national and EU funds to ensure sustainability and measurable impact.
The Plan sets a strategic objective to halt the increase in overweight and obesity through coordinated cross sectoral action, structured around three prevention levels: primary (healthy diet and physical activity promotion), secondary (early detection and weight gain prevention), and tertiary (diagnosis, treatment, and long term management). Key measures include improving food environments and nutrition literacy, introducing clearer food labelling, restricting unhealthy food marketing (especially to children), expanding opportunities for physical activity in communities, schools, workplaces, and healthcare settings, and addressing weight stigma. It also emphasizes early life interventions, such as breastfeeding promotion, support for pregnant women, parental education, and school based health promotion.
On the healthcare side, the plan prioritizes better diagnosis and treatment of obesity by equipping healthcare professionals with standardized algorithms, training, and tools, expanding access to state funded nutrition counseling, and scaling up multidisciplinary weight management programs for both children and adults, including regional services. Pilot initiatives are proposed for adult weight management clinics, medication reimbursement in severe cases, and bariatric surgery pathways. The Plan includes defined targets for 2029 (e.g., reduced prevalence of overweight, higher physical activity rates, and wider use of treatment services), dedicated monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and a multi year financing framework combining national and EU funds to ensure sustainability and measurable impact.
Title:
Cabinet Order No. 691 validating the Action Plan for Reducing the Growth of Overweight and Obesity (2025–2029).
Country:
Latvia
Type of document:
Regulation,
Policy
Files:
Date of text:
Repealed:
No