Accelerating childhood overweight reduction: lessons learned and the path towards 2030

Organizers: The webinar is hosted by WHO, UNICEF, and SUN Movement

Background

Childhood overweight poses a critical health risk, associated with a range of immediate and future health complications, including an increased risk of diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and respiratory problems. Psychosocial effects are also significant; children who are overweight may suffer from stigma, low self-esteem, and decreased social engagement, which can further impact mental health and educational outcomes.

This webinar will address the complex causes of childhood overweight, from unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles to environmental and socio-economic factors, including the paradox of the double burden of malnutrition in low- and middle-income countries. We will explore strategies for prevention and management, with an emphasis on promoting healthy early-life environments, improving access to nutritious foods, and integrating obesity prevention into healthcare systems. Addressing childhood overweight is essential to achieving Sustainable Development Goals on health, nutrition, and poverty reduction by 2030.

The webinar aims to: 

• Highlight the current progress and identify barriers to achieving the Global Nutrition Targets on childhood overweight by 2025.
• Present the suggested extension of the WHA Global Nutrition Targets to align with the 2030 agenda.
• Showcase best practice examples from countries to inspire others in their journey to commitment-making.
• Focus attention on high-impact interventions needed to improve childhood overweight.
• Describe key resources that countries can use to address childhood overweight relevant to the scope of the Paris Nutrition for Growth Summit and the SUN Global Gathering in 2025.

Agenda 

Moderator: Stephen Ogweno, World Obesity Federation 

15:00 – 15:03: Welcome

15:05 – 15:10: Opening remarks, Claire Johnson, UNICEF

15:10 – 15:20: Why child overweight is a major priority, Magdalena Wetzel, WOF

15:20 – 15:35: Charting the way forward to 2030, Francesca Celletti, WHO

15:35 – 15:50: Country examples, Simon Barquera, Mexico, and Rebone Ntsie, South Africa

15:50 – 16:25: Panel Discussion and Q&A

16:25 – 16:30: Closing remarks, Pierre Cooke, Jr, Healthy Caribbean Coalition and SUN Lead Group Member

Languages

The webinars will be simultaneously interpreted in Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian.