Distinguished members of the Commission, ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome back to Geneva. Thank you for again giving us your time and expertise. I will be brief. We all want to move quickly.
Childhood obesity, if you look at the statistics, continues to increase in every region of the world. As we all know, the biological mechanisms that contribute to obesity are notoriously complex, as are the mechanisms that cause so much damage to health.
But we need to unravel these complexities. We need to get the science right, and with that we then can translate it into advice and recommendations that policy-makers, including politicians, and parents can understand,
I am pleased to note the great progress on this agenda made since you last met in Geneva in July 2014. You have met with non-state actors in informal hearings to better understand the views of both civil society and the private sector on these complex issues.
Given the challenges at the policy level, we must have the best science on our side. The working group on science and evidence has met twice and undertaken a substantial amount of work to develop seven background papers.
This morning you will be discussing a stimulating summary report. It reaches a number of important conclusions.
Childhood obesity is not just the result of lifestyle choices. It is driven by trans-generational, biological and environmental issues beyond the child’s control.
For environmental issues, efforts need to focus on factors that influence the dietary and physical activity patterns of children and their parents.
However, focusing only on the obesogenic environment will not be enough to solve a problem of this complexity. New evidence shows the importance of taking a life-course approach.
The ad hoc working group on implementation, monitoring and accountability held its first meeting in Geneva in December, 2014. The meeting gave members an opportunity to learn more about what the Commission is doing and how it works. It initiated discussions on the development of an accountability framework relevant to all groups with a role in ending childhood obesity.
Members of the working group are eagerly awaiting the outcomes of your discussions over the next two days, which will provide the foundation for the group’s further work.
Since you last met, we have seen several signs that countries are deeply concerned about childhood obesity and see an urgent need for action. At its regional meeting last year, PAHO adopted a resolution and associated action plan on the prevention of childhood obesity.
EMRO went a step further with a resolution that tackled the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children.
The November nutrition conference in Rome covered malnutrition in all its forms, including overnutrition as well as undernutrition.
What I expect to see come out of this meeting is the first draft of a consensus report that identifies specific interventions, and their combinations, that are likely to have the greatest impact in different contexts around the world.
I think this is what everyone working to end childhood obesity needs most.
I have high expectations for this Commission and anticipate that your report will guide consultations and further research throughout the year.
The audience for your work is broad, including governments, academics, civil society, the private sector, other UN agencies, and ultimately, concerned parents.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Ending childhood obesity is one of the most complex health challenges facing the international community during this century.
If we get the answers right, and get governments to do the right things, we will likely be better placed to tackle other risk factors and their health consequences.
You have a heavy responsibility. People are looking to you for advice and guidance. I am looking to you for advice on how to take the agenda forward for implementation and doing what is needed to keep our children healthy.
Thank you.