This event brought to the streets the issue of one of the most important epidemics of the 21st century, childhood obesity, through the debate on the quality of life of current and future generations and the trade-off it poses to society regarding healthcare costs.
The intervention action of this initiative, called the National Childhood Obesity Screening Day, was carried out among the population, in areas of high public footfall such as shopping centres, in various cities across the country.
The continuation of the partnership with the Portuguese Society of Paediatrics and the Nestlé Nutrition Institute led to the holding of the 3rd National Childhood Obesity Screening Day, on 7 February 2009, in various cities across the country: Viana do Castelo, Braga, Chaves, Vila Real, Porto, Guimarães, Aveiro, Figueira da Foz, Coimbra, Leiria, Viseu, Évora and Funchal.
Objectives
- It aims to raise awareness among the general population about the problem of childhood obesity.
- It allows, in relation to children and caregivers (fathers and mothers), screening and diagnosing child situations: obese, overweight, normal and malnourished.
- It provides the opportunity for direct dialogue between caregivers, children and health professionals.
On behalf of the Fundação Cuidar O Futuro, the scientific coordination of this initiative was carried out by Maria Helena Porfírio.