childhood obesity

In 2012, statistics by the School Measurement Programme showed that not only was childhood obesity on the rise but whereas 1 in 5 children entering primary school are obese, upon leaving primary school this figure rises to 1 in 3.

• Britain has the highest rate of obesity in Europe
• The NHS costs attributable to overweight and obesity are projected to reach £9.7 billion by 2050

Childhood nutrition and obesity: current status and future challenges

Please click on the link above for more information on the programme, to register and to submit an Original Communication.

For further information, to view the scientific program, submit an abstract and to register please visit the Conference website.

Currently, over a third of children in the UK are either obese or overweight, a statistic that cannot be viewed in isolation and one that poses serious implications for the future of public health and government spending.

Industry experts have recognised that more needs to be done to prevent childhood obesity through education, as left ignored it can inevitably lead to serious diseases involving heart conditions, arthritis and diabetes at a later stage in life, all of which are treated at a significant cost and are easily preventable through an appropriate diet.

According to the European Commission, some 22 million children in the EU are considered overweight or obese, with the numbers growing by 400,000 per year. The EU has a pivotal role to play in dealing with these challenges through its food safety, public health, education and research policies.

With a key WHO commissioned review due to be completed this year on the the social determinants of health throughout all 53 Member States, this timely international symposium offers an invaluable opportunity to consider the progress made in tackling childhood obesity in Europe.