AS MANY as 150 million adults and 15 million children in Europe could be obese by the end of 2010, according to the World Health Organisation.

Estimates for Cyprus published late last year said by 2015, two out of three Cypriot will be obese.

This news comes as dietician to the stars, Dr Barry Sears, is in Cyprus to promote his obesity curing 'Zone' diet, which he described as an "Evolution of the Mediterranean diet."

Made famous by the likes of Hollywood celebrities Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt, the diet also claims to prevent cancer, diabetes and almost any condition ending in ‘itis’.

His visit also coincides with a proposal, by AKEL MEP, Kyriakios Triantaphyllidis, for a European Obesity Day on May 22.

Adressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Monday, Triantaphyllides said "Obesity is a disease, not a problem. According to the World Health Organisation, it is not only widespread, but taking on epidemic proportions."

In order to raise public awareness, he has teamed up with four colleagues and the pharmaceutical firm, GSK, to promote the annual European Obesity Day event. "If no action is taken" he said, "There will be approximately 150 million obese adults, or 20 per cent of the EU population, and 15 million obese children and adolescents, 10 per cent of the EU population, in the region by 2010"

The diet programme that Sears is here to promote, and which is soon to launch in northern Europe, could be help to tackle such a pandemic. Not only has the diet been clinically proven and endorsed by Harvard University Researchers, but it even helped the world's heaviest man, Manuel Uribe Garza, lose 260 KG, in under two years.

His diet is based on the theory that diseases such as obesity are linked to "Silent Inflammation", which is a low level inflammatory response by the body to pathogens and hormone changes. Different foods produce different hormones, therefore, Sears says, obesity can reduced by managed by choosing the right types and proportions of food.

Dr Savvas Savva, Head Research and Education Institute for Child Health (REICH) and child obesity specialist, said that support Sears claims. "We have the feeling as well that obesity is an inflammatory disorder, and inflammation can absolutely be controlled through diet. Particularly through reduction of mono unsaturated fats, and by increasing Omega 6 and 9 fats. The Mediterranean diet is a good example of this."

In fact the Zone diet is very similar to the Mediterranean diet. Sears said yesterday "Hippocrates said 'let food be your medicine and medicine your food.' Now we know what the old guy was talking about... we've taken a good diet and made it superior."

Last year REICH reported that two out of three Cypriots will be obese by 2015, and they are now conducting research to compare current child obesity levels with 1999. "For the last project we looked at 2,500 children. This year we will look at 3,000 to get a better understanding of the problem."

Triantaphylidis' proposal is signed by the majority of MEPs, it will be forwarded to the President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, who will then officially announce May 22 as Obesity day. For more information, see http://www.obesityday.eu/