Childhood Obesity Prevention: Youth-centered policy recommendations for country-level action
NCDs are a major burden for national and global development – posing a major threat to fulfilling the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goal 3 on health and well-being. Unhealthy diets and physical inactivity, two of the main risk factors of NCDs , have increased the prevalence of childhood obesity at an alarming rate. To shift this situation, governments need to design, implement and evaluate social, behavioural and financial interventions with a life-course approach.
Youth Recommendations for UN HLM on NCDs
The Third UN High-Level Meeting (HLM) on NCDs is less than 90 days away. Over the past six months, child health advocates, including health care providers, civil society, and youth, have repeatedly urged Member States to ensure the final Political Declaration for the UN HLM on NCDs is responsive to the needs of the population most affected by its policies: children, adolescents, and young people. These recommendations were developed by youth advocates and are meant to be shared with Member States throughout July.
Letter to Government Officials
This letter is developed to be sent from young people to government officials and making our key asks – proposing intergenerational collaboration for NCD policies as well as include a young person in their official country delegation to the UN High Level Meeting on NCDs. We suggest that the letter be sent much in advance of the High Level Meeting, since being included in the preparatory work for the meeting could offer great opportunities to learn and influence.
Budva Youth Declaration
The Budva Youth Declaration, developed during the 2017 International Federation of the Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA), is a call to action on the prevention and control of NCDs for all policymakers, sectors of government, civil society, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders. It provides 6 key areas for additional investment and policy coherence.