Uppsala Health Summit Launches 2016 Pre-Conference Report (english)
2016-09-08
Uppsala, Sweden, October 10 -12 2016
8 September 2016
A pre-conference report for the upcoming Uppsala Health Summit on “Ending Childhood Obesity”, is released today. The report covers a number of topics which include outlining the challenges, the effectiveness of the much debated sugar-tax targeting interventions for immigrants and the role of the industry. The report is produced as a background for the 200 delegates attending the Summit next month to prepare for dialogue and discussion to arrive at concrete solutions.
“We aim for an open and frank dialogue at this year’s summit, and we would like the participants to take away a feeling of empowerment as well as new tools and ideas to tackle childhood obesity in their specific contexts,” said Rikard Landberg, researcher, Chair of the Uppsala Health Summit Programme Committee for 2016 and one of the co-authors of the report.
The debate on childhood obesity has escalated over the past year, as health advocates and experts in all parts of the world have raised concerns for the alarming number of children affected in middle- and low-income settings. Specifically, in regions where unequal growth and urbanisation has paved the way for unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles, putting children at high risk of developing chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes.
Last year, a WHO commission was tasked with producing a report specifying which approaches would be most likely to be effective in tackling childhood obesity. The recommendations were conveyed at the World Health Assembly in May this year. The Uppsala Health Summit starts with these recommendations and aims to produce concrete actions that can be effective in different contexts around the world. The issue is complex and demands broad collaboration where different sectors work on different fronts simultaneously.
The report provides a background on the broad spectrum of topics that will be discussed in smaller group meetings behind closed doors. These workshops constitute an essential part of the summit:
- What can we expect if the much-debated sugar tax is implemented, and what other policies should be implemented in conjunction?
- What role does migration play in the development of overweight and obesity among children?
- How can labelling be used to educate consumers?
- Is there a business model that allows industry to reduce sugar in their products without reducing profit? What do schools need to become the allies we would like them to be in tackling obesity?
- Can we create “zones” where all stakeholders work together to make a difference locally?
Journalists are welcome to take part in the plenum sessions on both days of the summit, as well as the panel discussion and concluding remarks.
To receive the pre-conference report, please contact info@uppsalahealthsummit.se.
The report can also be download it from the Uppsala Health Summit website.
For the full programme and further information on the summit, please click here.
For press accreditation or questions, please contact Senior Press Officer Anneli Waara, +46 70 425 0718, anneli.waara@uadm.uu.se
For further information on the programme, please contact project leader Madeleine Neil, +46 70 425 08 91, madeleine.neil@uadm.uu.se
Website: http://www.uppsalahealthsummit.se
Twitter: @Ua_HealthSummit #UaHS2016