World Obesity Live - How are young people catalysing action on Childhood Obesity during COVID-19?
Oct 30, 2020Thankfully, children are rarely seriously affected by medical complications of COVID-19 itself. However, there are indications that young people with obesity are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes.
COVID-19 is also likely to increase health inequalities, with consequences for the poorest children when, for example, schools are closed. During this time, it is essential to maintain momentum on childhood obesity, while ensuring policies to promote child health are included in efforts to build back better. An important opportunity is the knowledge that young people can themselves bring to discussions on obesity. Listening to and acting on the experiences of children in their everyday lives – whether pre-COVID-19, under lockdown, or as part of efforts to build back better– is vital in ensuring that their concerns are met and that the response to those concerns is appropriate for the young people themselves.
True and lasting effects to positively impact youth health, including overweight and obesity, will not only need to include young people’s input, perspective, and suggestions: the initiative and leadership of young people themselves need to be part of the answer. This unique youth-led webinar will feature young speakers from around the world, who will share first-hand experiences of their fights against childhood obesity. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, young people are working tirelessly to ensure the health of future generations and reduce the spread of childhood obesity.
Join us in this webinar to hear from a group of inspirational speakers, who are determined to build a better world for all of us.
Friday 30th October 2020, 16:00-17:00 (GMT).
- Raise awareness about the importance of maintaining action on childhood obesity in the context of COVID-19
- Hear inspiring stories from young people affected by and/or working to address childhood obesity
- Dispel myths that childhood obesity is only an issue in wealthier countries, and mobilise action on the issue globally
16:00-16:05 Welcome
- Marie Hauerslev, Paediatrics Resident, Chair of NCD Child Governing Council, NCD Child (Denmark)
16:05-16:10 Childhood obesity in the context of COVID-19
- Claudia Selin Batz, Policy and Education Coordinator, World Obesity Federation & Core Team Member, Young Leaders for Health (UK)
16:10-16:15 Addressing childhood obesity: what works?
- Louise Tully, Ph.D. candidate, Division of Population Health Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (Ireland)
16:15-16:55 Youth voices
- Faith Newsome, Founder, OCEANS Lifestyles (USA)
- Tasha Mhayakayakora, Youth Board Member, Biteback, (UK)
- Lesly Samara Vejar, Institute of Public Health (Mexico)
- Pierre Cooke Jnr, One Young World Ambassador, Prime Minister of Barbados National Youth Parliament & Technical Advisor, Healthy Caribbean Coalition (Barbados)
16:55-17:00 Wrap up - Building forward better: what are priorities for action?
Marie Hauerslev, Paediatrics Resident, Chair of NCD Child Governing Council, NCD Child (Denmark)
Chair
- Marie Hauerslev, Paediatrics Resident, Chair of NCD Child Governing Council, NCD Child, Denmark
Speakers
- Pierre Cooke Jnr, One Young World Ambassador, Prime Minister of Barbados National Youth Parliament & Technical Advisor at the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (Barbados)
- Tasha Mhakayakora, Youth Board Member, Biteback (UK)
- Faith Newsome, Founder, OCEANS Lifestyles (USA)
- Claudia Selin Batz, Policy and Education Coordinator, World Obesity Federation & Core Team Member, Young Leaders for Health (UK)
- Louise Tully, Ph.D. candidate, Division of Population Health Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, (Ireland)
- Lesly Samara Vejar, Researcher, Institute of Public Health (Mexico)
Register here
Register for the next World Obesity Live, focusing on Childhood Obesity & COVID19, here.
Register here