High cholesterol — a chronic illness neglected in Europe

4.3.2015

Question for written answer P-003568-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Françoise Grossetête (PPE)

Cholesterol is a form of fat produced by the liver and transported by molecules in the blood. Excess cholesterol puts people at risk of heart disease and strokes.

According to the World Health Organisation, 54% of men and women in Europe — the highest percentage for any region of the world — are affected by ‘bad’ cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins or LDL).

In the European Union’s five largest Member States (Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the UK) 133.3 million people suffer from too high a level of bad cholesterol.

In 2007 the EU published a European strategy on nutrition, overweight and obesity-related health issues. In the measures it contains, however there is no specific mention of bad cholesterol.

Does the Commission plan to take account, particularly in its health strategy, of bad cholesterol as a risk factor for early death, given that few measures have been taken as yet to combat this illness?