3 research outputs found
Methodology and implementation of the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI)
Establishment of the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI)has resulted in a surveillance system which provides regular, reliable, timely, andaccurate data on children's weight status—through standardized measurement ofbodyweight and height—in the WHO European Region. Additional data on dietaryintake, physical activity, sedentary behavior, family background, and schoolenvironments are collected in several countries. In total, 45 countries in the EuropeanRegion have participated in COSI. The first five data collection rounds, between 2007and 2021, yielded measured anthropometric data on over 1.3 million children. In COSI,data are collected according to a common protocol, using standardized instrumentsand procedures. The systematic collection and analysis of these data enables inter-country comparisons and reveals differences in the prevalence of childhood thinness,overweight, normal weight, and obesity between and within populations. Furthermore,it facilitates investigation of the relationship between overweight, obesity, and poten-tial risk or protective factors and improves the understanding of the development ofoverweight and obesity in European primary-school children in order to supportappropriate and effective policy responses.The authors gratefully acknowledge support through a grant from
the Russian Government in the context of the WHO European
Office for the Prevention and Control of NCDs. The ministries of
health of Austria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Malta, Norway, and the
Russian Federation provided financial support for the meetings at
which the protocol, data collection procedures, and analyses were
discussed. Data collection in countries was made possible through
funding from the following: Albania: WHO through the Joint
Programme on Children, Food Security and Nutrition “Reducing
Malnutrition in Children,” funded by the Millennium Development
Goals Achievement Fund, and the Institute of Public Health. Austria:
Federal Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer
Protection of Austria. Bulgaria: Ministry of Health, National Center
of Public Health and Analyses, and WHO Regional Office for
Europe. Bosnia and Herzegovina: WHO country office support for
training and data management. Croatia: Ministry of Health, Croatian
Institute of Public Health, and WHO Regional Office for Europe.
Czechia: Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic, grant number
17-31670A and MZCR—RVO EU 00023761. Denmark: Danish
Ministry of Health. Estonia: Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of
Education and Research (IUT 42-2), WHO Country Office, and
National Institute for Health Development. Finland: Finnish Institute
for Health and Welfare. France: Santé publique France (the French
Agency for Public Health). Georgia: WHO. Greece: International
Hellenic University and Hellenic Medical Association for Obesity.
Hungary: WHO Country Office for Hungary. Ireland: Health Service
Executive. Italy: Ministry of Health. Kazakhstan: Ministry of Health
of the Republic of Kazakhstan, WHO, and UNICEF. Kyrgyzstan:
World Health Organization. Latvia: Ministry of Health and Centre
for Disease Prevention and Control. Lithuania: Science Foundation
of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences and Lithuanian Science
Council and WHO. Malta: Ministry of Health. Montenegro: WHO
and Institute of Public Health of Montenegro. North Macedonia:
Government of North Macedonia through National Annual Program
of Public Health and implemented by the Institute of Public Health
and Centers of Public Health; WHO country office provides support
for training and data management. Norway: the Norwegian Ministry
of Health and Care Services, the Norwegian Directorate of Health,
and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Poland: National
Health Programme, Ministry of Health. Portugal: Ministry of Health Institutions, the National Institute of Health, Directorate General of
Health, Regional Health Directorates, and the kind technical support
from the Center for Studies and Research on Social Dynamics and
Health (CEIDSS). Romania: Ministry of Health. Russian Federation:
WHO. San Marino: Health Ministry, Educational Ministry, and Social
Security Institute and Health Authority. Serbia: WHO and the
WHO Country Office (2015-540940 and 2018/873491-0). Slovakia:
Biennial Collaborative Agreement between WHO Regional Office
for Europe and Ministry of Health SR. Slovenia: Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia within the SLOfit
surveillance system. Spain: Spanish Agency for Food Safety and
Nutrition. Sweden: Public Health Agency of Sweden. Tajikistan:
WHO Country Office in Tajikistan and Ministry of Health and Social
Protection. Turkmenistan: WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan
and Ministry of Health. Turkey: Turkish Ministry of Health and
World Bank.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Methodology and implementation of the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI)
Establishment of the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) has resulted in a surveillance system which provides regular, reliable, timely, and accurate data on children's weight status-through standardized measurement of bodyweight and height-in the WHO European Region. Additional data on dietary intake, physical activity, sedentary behavior, family background, and school environments are collected in several countries. In total, 45 countries in the European Region have participated in COSI. The first five data collection rounds, between 2007 and 2021, yielded measured anthropometric data on over 1.3 million children. In COSI, data are collected according to a common protocol, using standardized instruments and procedures. The systematic collection and analysis of these data enables intercountry comparisons and reveals differences in the prevalence of childhood thinness, overweight, normal weight, and obesity between and within populations. Furthermore, it facilitates investigation of the relationship between overweight, obesity, and potential risk or protective factors and improves the understanding of the development of overweight and obesity in European primary-school children in order to support appropriate and effective policy responses