What is EU JANPA?
The high level of overweight and obesity in children and young people is a problem of particular concern in all Member States of the European Union. The European Joint Action on Nutrition and Physical Activity is a European Alliance set up to stop the rise in overweight and obesity in children and adolescents by 2020. The work will be carried out within the global frame of the ‘EU Action plan on childhood obesity 2014-2020’, and in close link with the ‘European action plan for a nutrition and food policy 2015-2020’.
To achieve its objectives, JANPA is organised in 7 work packages (WP):
- WP1 – Coordination. Ensure the success of the Joint Action (JA) by efficient management and coordination of the different WPs.
- WP2 – Dissemination. Promote the JA objectives and activities and, most important, disseminate the results with the involvement of the relevant stakeholders.
- WP3 – Evaluation. Carry out a systematic evaluation of the entire project, the accomplishment of the objectives and the impact and outcomes.
- WP4 – Evidence and Economic rationale for action on childhood obesity. Develop an evidence-based economic rationale for action on childhood obesity.
- WP5 – Nutritional information. Share the best practices on how nutritional information on food and diet is gathered and used for nutritional policy by the different stakeholders.
- WP6 – Healthy environments by integrated approaches. Help MSs to create healthier environments, in particular in kindergartens and schools, by providing guidance on policy options and national initiatives.
- WP7 – Early interventions. Improve the quality of public policies and interventions by developing information on efficient actions that target pregnant women and families with young children.
Who is involved?
25 out of the 28 Member States will participate either as associated or as collaborating partners. Norway will also take part.
How is IPH involved?
The Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) will lead on Work Package 4 (WP4) that aims to develop the evidence-based economic rationale for action on childhood obesity. WP 4 will build on previous adult obesity costing studies carried out across the island of Ireland and the EU, by adapting their statistical modelling techniques and applying them to childhood obesity. This component of the study is funded by safeFood.
What has happened so far?
JANPA was launched in September 2015.
In November 2015, IPH presented JANPA's cost of childhood obesity project to the EU JRC's economics workshop in Italy. Access the presentation here
You can sign up for the JANPA Newsletter here
For more information access the website here
For more information about the role of IPH in WP4, please email Fiona.oshea@publichealth.ie
