How can we ensure the best possible framework for children’s well-being so that they have the opportunity to grow up with a healthy body?
Several organizations have joined the Børnevægt i Balance alliance to address this question. The 35 partners in the Alliance comprise private, public and civil society organizations and include Børns Vilkår (Danish Children’s Rights Association), the Danish Cancer Society, the Confederation of Danish Industry and the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.
“The number of children and adolescents with overweight has tripled in the past 30 years, and unfortunately, many of these children will carry this additional weight into adulthood. Prevention is therefore paramount. Healthy habits are established early, and we are striving to create a framework that promotes healthy lifestyles and to ensure that the healthy choice is also the easy choice,” says Mette Lolk Hanak, Head of Prevention & Information, Danish Cancer Society on the reasons for joining the Børnevægt i Balance alliance.
Every child has the right to grow up with a healthy weight
The partners in the Børnevægt i Balance alliance will work to ensure that more children in Denmark feel good about themselves and their bodies; will promote equity in health in Denmark regardless of social background and life situation; and will strive to reduce and counteract the stigma surrounding obesity.
“Stopping the widespread mental distress among children and adolescents is one of today’s greatest societal challenges, and solving this requires us to collaborate. We are therefore looking forward to the efforts of the Børnevægt i Balance alliance. Reducing the pressure on children and adolescents is crucial for us, especially in relation to body and gender, since we know that many people struggle with negative self-esteem and stress related to having a certain appearance,” says Rasmus Kjeldahl, Director, Børns Vilkår.
Factors influencing the health and well-being of children and adolescents include the framework, conditions and societal norms in which they and their families live. Society is therefore clearly responsible for ensuring healthy weight among children and adolescents.
“All children have the right to a good and healthy childhood. We are very pleased that we have succeeded in gathering many key societal actors. Based on their respective competencies, they can contribute to creating an appropriate framework for ensuring that children and adolescents can exercise this right. One way we will achieve this is by establishing common understanding of the challenges and possible solutions,” says Arne Astrup, Project Director, Healthy Weight Centre, Novo Nordisk Foundation.
The Foundation is providing the secretariat services for the Børnevægt i Balance alliance, which has been established as a separate and independent entity. The Foundation will participate on an equal footing with the other members in the day-to-day activities of the alliance.
Read more at www.boernevaegtibalance.dk (in Danish only)
Further information
Anne Friis Krarup, Senior Project Manager, +45 2234 0830, [email protected]
Sabina Askholm Larsen, Communications Partner, +45 2367 3226, [email protected]
