Obesity has been recognized in the last decade as a global epidemic. No longer confined to the developed world, it is a problem which affects almost every region, with only South and East Asia relatively unaffected. One billion adults are estimated to be overweight, with a further 475 million clinically obese. This is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, which is one of the most serious public health threats in the world today, as well as a number of other conditions including cardio-vascular disease and some cancers. Given the implications for food production and its ecological impact, obesity is also an issue for sustainable development.

Whether with a view to individual well-being, population health, health care services being put under near intolerable strain, or environmental sustainability, it is urgent that the problem of obesity be tackled. Better nutrition and appropriate exercise are obviously critical. But obesity is what we call a 'wicked problem' - multi-dimensional, engaging diverse stakeholders and interest groups, and touching on tricky issues around personal liberty and state intervention. How can we best collaborate to get the policy priorities right? And who needs to be round the table?

To address this question we will gather an international group of Salzburg Fellows, from the worlds of health and nutrition, government and politics, education, environment and development, sport, and the food industry - as well as lively critics of all sectors. This survey of the field will lay the groundwork for a possible future series at the Salzburg Global Seminar to explore different aspects of what is turning into a major challenge of the 21st century.

AGENDA

Friday 14 June

From 17.00    Arrivals

19.00    Introductions and reception, stair hall of the Château

19.30    Dinner

Saturday 15 June

09.00    Introduction

John Lotherington, Program Director, Salzburg Global Seminar

Celina Gorre, Executive Director, Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases

09:30    What is the global scale of the problem? Implications for the coming generation

Dr Tim Marsh, the Uk Health Forum, (UKHF)

10.00    Plenary discussion

10.45    Break

11.15     Obesity: Understanding the causes to develop informed action

Professor Wendy Brown, School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland

11.45    Plenary discussion

12.30    Lunch

14.00    Case study from New York City: Policies to Nudge Beverage Choices - Soda Taxes and Beyond

Professor Claire Wang, Department of Health Policy and Management, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, New York City

14.30    Plenary discussion

15.30    Break

16.00     Break-out groups 

17:00     Break-out groups report back (to 17:30)

19.00    Reception

19.30    Dinner

Sunday 16 June

09.00    Childhood Obesity: a whole environment behavior change approach

Dr Mihela Erjavec, Lecturer in Developmental Psychology, Senior Researcher Food Dudes Health, School of Psychology, Bangor University

Discussant: Margret Ploum, Teamleader Preventing Overweight, Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the Hague

09.30    Plenary discussion

10.30    Break

11.00    Case Study from the UK: the School Food Plan

Myles Bremner, Chief Executive, Garden Organic, and Expert Panel member for the School Food Plan

11.30    Plenary discussion

12.30    Lunch

14.30    Break-out groups

15.30    Break-out groups report back

16.00    Break

16.30    Coalition building and advocacy

Round table

17.30    Conclusions: agenda for change

18:00    Celina Gorre, Executive Director, Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases

19.00    Reception

19.30    Dinner

Monday 17 June

Departures after breakfast

Participants are welcome from the worlds of health and nutrition, government and politics, education, environment and development, sport, the food industry, and concerned citizens - as well as lively critics of all sectors. This survey of the field will lay the groundwork for a possible future series at the Salzburg Global Seminar to explore different aspects of what is turning into a major challenge of the 21st century.