Childhood Obesity: Current challenges and future directions

This lecture examined the lifestyle factors that contribute to the development of obesity; namely diet and physical activity and questioned why, despite being aware of these modifiable risk factors, it is such a challenge to reverse the trends in the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity. It considered the challenges for practitioners, researchers and policy-makers and then drew on the experience from the development, delivery and evaluation of a number of childhood obesity prevention programmes to make recommendations for future interventions. The solutions are far from straightforward for a condition which on the surface appears simple and this lecture aims to begin the debate about the kind of measures that should or could be considered. However there is consensus that a co-ordinated approach is essential across government departments that links with food industry, media, local government and public health departments, health and social services, local communities, parents and carers to ensure that healthier choices are the easier choices in our everyday lives. The lecture concluded by highlighting future directions for research that involve the experience of users, practitioners and researchers in order to develop, deliver and evaluate interventions to address this major public health issue.