This innovative EU-funded project aims to reduce childhood obesity by working with young people to create policy actions promoting healthier environments
CO-CREATE brings together World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) International and 13 other research and advocacy organisations to work with young people to create, inform and disseminate evidence-based policies that help prevent obesity. We aim to reduce childhood obesity and associated co-morbidities in Europe and the rest of the world.
The project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, and is led by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. The project engages international partners from a range of countries: the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal and Poland, with input from outside Europe in Australia, the US and South Africa.
Childhood obesity is on the rise across Europe. By 2025, one in five children in Europe is expected to be overweight or obese – more than 16 million children across Europe. Being overweight or obese in adolescence (13–18 year age group) is a strong predictor of remaining so into adulthood.
WCRF International’s research shows that overweight and obesity is a cause of 12 different cancers. Excess weight and obesity have been linked to other chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other metabolic disorders.
This rise in overweight and obesity is fuelling the increase in cancer around the world. If we want to make a real dent in these soaring obesity rates, we need to look not just at people themselves but also their environment – and the way to do that is through policy. – Dr Kate Allen, World Cancer Research Fund International’s Executive Director of Science & Public Affairs
We’ve developed MOVING, a physical activity framework and database, building on and complementing our existing NOURISHING framework and database. We are conducting global and comprehensive scans of implemented government policies promoting healthy diets and physical activity. This will enable us to develop an index to benchmark and assess the overall policy status of European countries with regards to nutrition and physical activity. Kate Oldridge-Turner, WCRF International’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, is leading on this project.
> What is the NOURISHING database? Download our 1-page explainer
> What is the MOVING database? Download our 1-page explainer
Keep up to date with all our latest developments, including CO-CREATE, by signing up to our policy and public affairs newsletter. You can also follow events on Twitter, using the hashtag #CC4EU. For more information about the project, visit www.co-create.eu
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 774210. This content reflects only the authors’ views and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
