The problem

The increasing prevalence of obesity is a major threat to the health of the citizens of Europe. The main causes, inappropriate nutrition and insufficient physical activity, are unequally distributed across society. Those with lower incomes and lower levels of education are at greater risk of obesity and the diseases it can lead to. Research and knowledge in this area is inadequately shared and coordinated among different countries, and is not optimally integrated into health protection policies. These failings are preventing policies on nutrition and physical activity from achieving their aims.

Overview:

EURO-PREVOB will address current policy weaknesses by establishing a European scientific network for the prevention of obesity through effective nutrition and physical activity actions.

The project will:

• Collect evidence on the determinants of obesity in Europe and appropriate policy responses
• Analyse knowledge, actions and policies within the Member States and associated countries
• Develop and test tools to assist policy analysis and provide scientific input to support anti-obesity actions and policies
• Contribute to the development of future European policies on obesity and physical activity

Contribution to policy development:

• Analysing and integrating different national policies to achieve a coherent understanding of the current situation, in the context of an enlarged and increasingly diverse EU.
• Development and testing of new methods to assist policy formulation.
• Formulation of new policy options for tackling obesity in Europe.
• Improved understanding of the relationship between social inequalities and the variable impact of anti-obesity policies.

Project deliverables

• A database of experts and stakeholders – December 2007
• Literature review on the main causes of obesity in Europe and the linked patterns of social inequality – February 2008
• An extensive review of previous and existing policies, interventions and actions – February 2008
• New policy-analysis tools – February 2008
• Policy recommendations in the areas of nutrition and physical activity – December 2009

Dissemination

• Publication of papers in academic journals – as needed
• Publication and electronic distribution of policy overviews – towards end of project
• Presentations at conferences and workshops – as appropriate
• Distribution of all results through the project website – ongoing

Technical information

Project acronym: EURO-PREVOB
Project’s official full title: Tackling the social and economic determinants of nutrition and physical activity for the prevention of obesity across Europe
Research priority: Health determinants and the provision of high quality and sustainable health care services and pension systems (in particular in the context of ageing and demographic change)
Specific webpage: www.europrevob.eu
Proposal/contract no: 044291
Start date: 1 January 2007
Kick off meeting: 25 April 2007
Completion date: 31 December 2009
European Commission scientific officer: Gesa Hansen, Gesa.HANSEN@ec.europa.eu

Coordinator:
Name: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Abbreviated name: LSHTM
Address: Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT
Country: United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7927 2229
Fax: +44 (0)20 7580 8183
Website: http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/

Partners

Name: SUHR’S Seminarium
Abbreviated name: SUHRS
Country: Denmark

Name: World Health Organisation’s Regional Office for Europe
Abbreviated name: WHO
Country: Denmark

Name: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale
Abbreviated name: INSERM
Country: France

Name: Hacettepe University Department of Nutrition and Dietetics
Abbreviated name: HUBDB
Country: Turkey

Name: South East Public Health Observatory
Abbreviated name: SEPHO
Country: United Kingdom

Name: Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca per gli Alimenti e la Nutrizione
Abbreviated name: INRAN
Country: Italy

Name: Public Health Agency
Abbreviated name: PHA
Country: Latvia

Name: Mazaryk University
Abbreviated name: MU
Country: Czech Republic

Name: Institute of Public Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Abbreviated name: IPH-FBIH
Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Name: National Centre for Preventive Medicine
Abbreviated name: NCPM
Country: Russia

Name: Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia
Abbreviated name: IVZ
Country: Slovenia

Name: Geneva Infant Feeding Association
Abbreviated name: GIFA
Country: Switzerland

Name: University College London
Abbreviated name: UCL
Country: UK