The World Health Organisation establishes a commission on ending childhood obesity

To gather the best possible advice on dealing with the crisis of childhood obesity, in May 2014 WHO’s Director-General established a high-level Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity. In 2012, more than 40 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese and this number is expected to rise to 70 million children by 2025 if current trends continue.  In response, the Commission has been tasked with producing a report specifying which approaches and which combinations of interventions are likely to be most effective in different contexts around the world. The report is to arise from consensus between a broad variety of experts and will be presented to the WHO Director-General so that she can convey its recommendations to the World Health Assembly.

The Commission of thirteen members includes Dr. David Nabarro, co-ordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement. The Commission will be supported by two working groups.

1. An ad hoc Working Group on Science and Evidence consisting of experts in epidemiology, paediatrics, nutrition, development origins, health literacy, and marketing to children, health economics, physical activity and gestational diabetes
2. The Working Group on Implementation, Monitoring and Accountability will consist of experts in monitoring and accountability, joined by representatives of governments, civil society, groups representing children, advocates for child health and nutrition, and international organizations.

Read more about the Commission at WHO

Read more at Voice of America

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Read a blog at the Young Professionals Chronic Disease Network