Τhe WHO Office on Quality of Care and Patient Safety (Athens Office) and the WHO Country Office in Greece, in collaboration with WHO/Europe’s Special Initiative on Noncommunicable Diseases and Innovation (SNI) and WHO headquarters will host a series of meetings on obesity on 18–21 June 2024, in Athens.
Reducing obesity in southern Europe: 18–19 June 2024
The first meeting, titled “From data to action: implementing policies to reduce obesity in southern European countries”, organized by SNI and the Athens Office, will take place on 18–19 June in Athens.
This policy dialogue will bring together participants from around 10 countries, including representatives of the Greek Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, as well as other significant Greek and European stakeholders.
The discussion aims to highlight the obesity crisis in southern Europe as a public health issue, assess the effectiveness of proposed interventions and identify critical areas for future action. By sharing information and experiences, participants will co-create strategies to improve health outcomes and enhance resilience and preparedness for future medical emergencies.
As part of this meeting, the Athens Office will launch 2 parallel activities on 18 June, designed to engage young participants in interactive and educational sessions promoting physical activity and healthy eating. In the morning, children will participate in a basketball game and a yoga class at the National Garden of Zappeion, with a renowned professional basketball player guiding the game.
Following the sports activities, the children will participate in a cooking class, where they will learn to prepare nutritious meals under the guidance of the executive chef, Asterios Koustoudis. These activities aim to instil healthy habits in children from an early age and support the broader goal of reducing obesity rates in Greece and southern Europe.
WHO acceleration plan to stop obesity: 19–21 June 2024
The second event, scheduled for 19–21 June, is a thematic workshop on the execution of the “WHO acceleration plan to stop obesity” and focuses on policies to protect children from the harmful impact of food marketing. At the core of the acceleration plan sits a consolidated set of prioritized policies, drawing from those already tested and proven effective, rooted in implementation and delivery science. This acceleration plan offers the prospect of a step change in delivery and impact in the effort to tackle the growing crisis of obesity.
This workshop aims to conduct a deep dive aimed at unpacking lessons learned, challenges and solutions related to the development, introduction, implementation and redesign of policies to protect children from the harmful impact of food marketing. It will conclude with the formulation of a 100-day challenge for participating countries.
Event details
Distinguished attendees, including the Minister and Alternate Minister of Health of Greece, and representatives from countries from all WHO regions globally will be present at all the above events. Additionally, comprehensive coverage by local media outlets is anticipated.