Fighting Childhood Obesity:

Taking Preventative Measures and Improving Treatment

Key Speakers

Overview

About 18% of children and adolescents are affected by obesity while 11% of households experienced food insecurity at some point in 2018. America is experiencing a health crisis that is costing us $14 billion in direct medical costs and could cost $19,000 per child over their lifetime. Financial costs aside, obesity can shorten one’s life expectancy up to 14 years and can come with debilitating effects such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some forms of cancer if not handled properly. Studies have also found that obesity can increase the risk of dying from Covid-19 by up to 48% and can make vaccines against the virus less effective. The US also has the highest rates of obesity compared to the other countries around the world and obesity rates are expected to rise making our health crisis uniquely concerning. 

While genetics is a notable cause of obesity, there are structural causes that our society can address. Our sedentary lifestyle is a major issue with children between the ages of 8 and 18 consume media (such as computer, television, and game screens) about 44 hours per week which is more than any other activity next to sleeping. Research has also found a strong association between increases in advertising for non-nutritious foods and rates of childhood obesity. We also know that children under 6 have trouble distinguishing between persuasive advertising and programming heavily shaping their dietary preferences. Ironically the same media we constantly consume also produces unrealistic and unhealthy body imagery that make it difficult to promote healthy lifestyles into adulthood. Unsurprisingly these health issues uniquely impact people of color and lower socioeconomic status. Marginalized groups can only afford to live in neighborhoods that are further away from supermarkets where nutritious food is sold making interventions less effective. They also live in areas known as “Food Swamps” where there are high concentrations of fattening fast food restaurants making it difficult to access affordable healthy meals and leaving unhealthy meals as the only viable option. These inequities are unconscionable in a country that is more than capable of producing enough healthy food and present a moral demand for our society to do better.  

This timely symposium provides an invaluable opportunity for health practitioners, educators, families and other key stakeholders to reflect on progress made, identify challenges and consider next steps for creating a healthy America. Cross-sector exchange will help facilitate better partnerships between civil society, the private sector and government actors. It will allow delegates to consider solutions to identified barriers and challenges related to policy implementation. Participants will be able to transfer key learnings and best practices to their own communities whether at the local, state or national level.

 Delegates Will

•  Explore collaborative efforts that families, schools and our healthcare systems can take to tackle obesity 

• Identify ways to incentivize and facilitate better nutrition among youth 

• Learn how we can use technology to improve health and fitness in America 

• Address the inequalities and discrimination involved in the obesity crisis in America

• Discuss strategies to treat youth currently facing obesity and nutritional deficiencies 

• Understand the cultural shifts necessary to  improve health and fitness

• Consider ways to adapt health and fitness plans in an increasingly digital and socially distant world 

• Debate how to balance fighting the obesity epidemic with the need to promote body positivity

Program

Who Should Attend?