Abstract

We are pleased to announce that our 2017 Behaviour and Health Research Unit (BHRU) annual lecture, in association with the Centre for Science and Policy (CSaP), will be held on Thursday the 11th May 18:00PM at The Howard Lecture Theatre, Downing College, Cambridge. The lecture will be given by Corinna Hawkes, Professor of Food Policy and Director, Centre for Food Policy, City University.

Tackling childhood obesity is a public health priority. Today one fifth of children are overweight or obese when they start school at age 4, rising to one third of children at age 11-15. Children living in the 10% most deprived areas of the country are twice as likely to be obese as their peers in the least deprived areas. Poor dietary habits and physical inactivity underpin obesity in children but also increase the risk of later weight gain.

The scale of the problem necessitates a population-based approach to intervention which particularly protects the most vulnerable. In this lecture, Professor Hawkes will provide an overview of actions being taken in the UK and around the world to address childhood obesity, focusing on actions to improve diets. She will assess progress to date, and argue that real progress will only be made when a more integrated, inclusive approach is taken to addressing the problem.

To register for this talk click here