Nordic Collaboration to Combat Overweight and Obesity Among Children
On November 13th, the Nordic cancer societies launched their recommendations for political measures that can counteract the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among children in the Nordic countries.
1 in 5 Children Live with Overweight or Obesity
Overweight and obesity are associated with at least 13 different types of cancer. Today, as many as 1 in 5 children live with overweight and obesity. Research shows that healthy habits established early in life are likely to persist into adulthood. By promoting good lifestyle habits and making it easier to make healthy choices, we can reduce the risk of cancer in the future.
Strong Support for Nordic Recommendations
Through the Nordic collaborative project CAPOC (Common Actions for the Prevention of Overweight and Obesity among Children), the cancer societies have developed a policy document with concrete recommendations tailored to the Nordic countries. The recommendations are based on 70 systematic reviews and meta-analyses as well as 54 publications from gray literature.
The recommendations include measures aimed at:
✅ Marketing restrictions for unhealthy food and beverages aimed at children
✅ Fiscal measures
✅ Front of pack labeling for informed choices
✅ School fruit programs and active school days
✅ Additional prevention policies that promote and improve the availability, accessibility, and affordability of healthy diets and physical activity in all public institutions and at all stages of childhood.
“These are not only our policy recommendations but also what research indicates is most effective. If politicians want to implement policies that save billions in the future and prevent the risk of developing cancer and other non-communicable diseases, they should adopt these measures,” says Ingrid Stenstadvold Ross, Secretary General of the Cancer Association.
Survey conducted as part of the project show that the population in the Nordic countries largely supports these measures.
Presented in the Danish parliament
The recommendations were recently presented in the Danish parliament and were welcomed by both WHO Europe and the Nordic Council of Ministers. This was followed by a panel discussion with state secretaries from Norway and Sweden, as well as leading Nordic experts.
The participants highlighted the value of Nordic collaboration in this area. By sharing experiences and supporting each other across Nordic borders, prevention efforts can achieve greater impact.
Some Nordic countries are ahead in certain areas. In Norway, we hope to enact the marketing ban on unhealthy food targeted at children and youth. The Norwegian Cancer Society has been working towards this for many years. Other countries are in the initial stages and are closely following developments in Norway.
This work is not only about reducing the risk of cancer in the future but also about making a collective effort to give all children the opportunity to grow up in a society where the healthiest choices are the easiest.
Policy paper:
https://www.cancer.dk/om-os/udgivelser-og-rapporter/forebyg-kraeft/policy-paper-preventing-childhood-overweight-and-obesity/
Review report:
https://www.cancer.dk/om-os/udgivelser-og-rapporter/forebyg-kraeft/an-umbrella-review-of-the-evidence-on-structural-prevention-policies-and-prevention-of-overweight-and-obesity-among-children/
Survey report:
https://www.cancer.dk/om-os/udgivelser-og-rapporter/forebyg-kraeft/a-study-on-public-support-towards-overweight-and-obesity-prevention-policies-among-children-in-5-nordic-countries/
Short scrolly version of the survey: Epinion
