Europeans approve anti-obesity charter

European health ministers from 53 countries approved the world's first charter to fight obesity on Thursday, vowing greater action against the epidemic of expanding waistlines across the continent.

The charter, approved in Istanbul, Turkey, was drafted by the World Health Organization in consultation with its European member states. It is the first real attempt to compel national authorities to take concrete action to combat obesity. . . .

The charter commits governments to things like improving the availability of healthy foods and adopting regulations for safer roads to promote cycling and walking.