Childhood Obesity: Working together for a healthier future
A one day conference, Monday 10th November 2008
Edinburgh, Venue TBC
Speakers include:
Dr Michael Gard, Associate Professor, Charles Sturt University, Australia and co-author The Obesity Epidemic: Science, Morality and Ideology
Bill Gray, National Project Officer, Community Food and Health (Scotland)
Dr Laura Stewart, Director and Independent Dietician, The Children's Weight Clinic, Edinburgh
Childhood obesity is one of the most serious global health challenges of the 21st century. In the UK, childhood obesity rates have more than trebled in the past twenty years and if they continue at this rate it is predicted that more than half of British children will be obese by 2020.  According to a report by ScotPHO, almost one in five boys and one in ten girls in Scotland aged between 2 and 15 are classed as obese. The future outlook is even worse, with 60 per cent of the population expected to be severely overweight by 2050, and there is no denying that obesity has become a major public health concern.

In a bid to reverse these trends, in June 2008, the Public Health Minister for The Scottish Government, Shona Robison MSP, launched a new action plan targeting obesity, poor diet and exercise with a number of points aimed at early years, schools and school age children.  Over the next three years, the Scottish Government will invest an additional £40m in improving healthy eating and physical activity.

This one-day conference will examine how the Scottish Government intends to tackle increasing rates of child obesity, through the Healthy Eating, Active Living action plan and the broader strategy for a healthier Scotland.  The agenda will focus on how to effect long-term socio-cultural change by involving families, communities, schools, industry, central and local government and individuals in tackling increasing childhood overweight and obesity rates. Attendees will discuss the role of each of these groups, as well as hearing about a range of treatment, intervention and prevention options and debating their appropriate use for children.  The conference will also provide best practice examples of initiatives and partnerships that are already working to see what lessons can be learned from them.

This event will include debate and discussion sessions throughout the day, giving delegates the opportunity to ask questions and raise issues they feel should be addressed.  The conference will provide a platform for informed debate on the main issues and an opportunity to question representatives from key organisations within Scotland and internationally.

While we are pulling together the final agenda for this event, please register your interest above. Alternatively you can take advantage of our early bird discount by booking your place now.

If you have any questions, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call us on 0131 272 2133.

We look forward to seeing you at this important and timely event.

A Holyrood magazine one-day conference

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