Policy Laboratory: Obesity and food system actions under the microscope

As we reach the halfway point of the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition, there is an urgent responsibility to ensure global food systems can deliver healthy and sustainable diets for everyone.

COVID-19 has exposed vulnerabilities in current food systems, surrounding environments, and the absence of processes to protect the health of often-forgotten and/or vulnerable populations, including people living with obesity. While under-nutrition, over-nutrition and bad nutrition risk being exacerbated because of the ongoing pandemic and increased levels of food insecurity, action on strengthening food systems and combatting the commercial determinants of health is urgently needed to improve the food environments and protect our global community.

In September 2021, the UN Food Systems Summit will be convened to drive progress towards the 2030 Sustainable Development agenda, followed by the Nutrition for Growth Summit in December. World Obesity’s policy laboratory webinar will explore food system’s central role in addressing the obesity pandemic. Through several case studies, our speakers will aim to highlight best practices on what has or should be implemented to achieve healthier, more sustainable, and equitable food systems for everyone.

• Date: 13th July
• Time: 13:00-14:45pm BST

The event precedes the launch of World Obesity’s policy dossier on food systems, and a briefing on the topic in September.

Webinar Objectives

1. To increase awareness and understanding of food systems, including priority polices required to address obesity that should be advocated for at the UN Food Systems Summit 2021
2. To increase understanding of the role of food systems in driving the obesity epidemic, including the impact of COVID-19 on global nutrition and food supply disruptions and current food systems goals
3. To advance the Global Syndemic narrative, which highlights the need for double and triple duty actions to address the growing burden of undernutrition, overnutrition and climate change.
4. To present recommendations and country specific case studies on policies and interventions that have been or could be implemented to achieve healthier, more sustainable, safer, and equitable food systems.