Strathclyde academic appointed to World Health Organization panel
An academic at the University of Strathclyde is joining an international panel appointed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to help seek solutions to childhood obesity. Professor John Reilly, of the University's School of Psychological Sciences & Health, is one of only 17 members of the working group reporting to WHO's Director General on science and evidence for ending childhood obesity.
The group will be assessing research to inform recommendations to be made by the Director General, Dr Margaret Chan, to the World Health Assembly in 2015.
WHO statistics indicate that at least 40 million children worldwide under the age of five were classed as obese in 2012. The total is projected to rise to at least 70 million by 2025.
Professor Reilly has conducted extensive research into childhood obesity. He has been involved in compiling a global matrix measuring and comparing the physical activity of children in 15 countries and also led the most comprehensive study yet of the association between obesity and academic attainment in adolescence. He is currently involved in childhood obesity prevention research projects in South Africa, Tanzania, Morocco, Bahrain, and Mauritius.
He said: "Childhood obesity remains an urgent problem, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where it is increasing rapidly. It's linked to non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes and heart disease. In these countries, non-communicable diseases are now the major causes of death and the position is getting worse.
"In high-income countries, childhood obesity particularly increased from the late '80s and has levelled off in the last five years but it could still pick up again.
"We'll be carrying out a rigorous review of the best evidence on childhood obesity, its economic impact and monitoring, prevention and treatment. This will help to build robust strategies for the Director General's recommendations on dealing with, and preventing, obesity and its consequences."
The WHO Director General's Ad hoc Working Group on Science and Evidence for Ending Childhood Obesity is to meet for the first time in Geneva on 17-20 June. The initiative is part of the overall WHO agenda on non-communicable diseases. Further details on the Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity can be seen at http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/end-childhood-obesity/en/
source: indiaeducationdiary.in