Pau Gasol, 45 years old, has become relevant again. This is because he is working and has spoken forcefully about a situation that he believes must be stopped immediately.
Specifically, he said about this situation: "This is a pandemic that is not known and there is a lot of misinformation." That's why he believes that measures must be taken immediately.
Pau Gasol and childhood obesity: a global alert
Since he left the courts, Pau Gasol has focused his efforts on the Gasol Foundation, which he created together with his brother Marc. It is dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyle habits in childhood, working around four pillars: nutrition, physical activity, rest, and emotional well-being. One of the most recent results of this work is the documentary Childhood Obesity, produced by the foundation and directed by Pablo Deus, available on Movistar Plus+.
To talk about this miniseries, the former athlete went to the program La Ventana, on Cadena SER. There, he spoke more forcefully than ever about the aforementioned disease among children. That's why he defined it as follows: "This is a pandemic that is not known and there is a lot of misinformation."
In this regard, he added: "We try to educate and empower, to give alternatives. Every father and mother wants to provide the best for their children, they don't do it consciously. That's why it's important to work with families so that they are aware of what their children eat and how it affects their development."
He also indicated that if real and effective measures are not taken on this issue, things look bad. Yes, because it would mean that by 2050 there would be more than 360 million children and adolescents suffering from it.
The documentary he has promoted seeks precisely to awaken that awareness. Through testimonies from experts, families, and personal experiences, it reflects the magnitude of a problem that is far from being solved. Gasol himself recalled that when he and his brother began to investigate, they were shocked by the figures and understood that it was necessary to act.
Pau Gasol's proposals to stop the silent pandemic
Pau Gasol doesn't just diagnose the problem, but also offers solutions. Among the most urgent measures, he indicated: "Marketing and consumption of ultra-processed foods must be limited."
"There are already countries that apply measures that work in this regard. Our Mediterranean diet, which we are proud of, we have to make it more appealing for our boys and girls."
The former basketball player also pointed out that childhood obesity doesn't have a single cause, but rather responds to multiple factors. Sedentarism, excessive screen time, lack of adequate rest, and easy access to unhealthy foods form a cocktail that drives up overweight rates. Added to this is the pressure of marketing that associates happiness and fun with the consumption of products with high levels of sugar and fats.
The Gasol Foundation works to counteract these trends, developing educational programs in schools and vulnerable communities. Pau emphasized that obesity especially affects families with fewer resources, since in many neighborhoods it is cheaper to buy fast food than fresh fruits and vegetables. This social inequality further aggravates the problem and turns the fight against obesity into a collective challenge.
There were also personal references during the interview. He spoke about his brother Marc and how he had to work hard to regain his physical shape after gaining weight in his adolescence, when the family moved to the United States. He stated: "He is an example that no one is exempt, and that with effort and support these situations can be reversed."