EPODE International Network (EIN) is a not for profit, non-governmental organisation that seeks to support

childhood obesity Childhood obesity is a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a child's health or well-being. As methods to determine body fat directly are difficult, the diagnosis of obesity is often based on BMI. Due to the rising prevalence of ...

-prevention programmes across the world, via best practice sharing and capacity building. The name EPODE comes from ‘Ensemble Prévenons l'ObésitéDes Enfants’ Together Let's Prevent Childhood Obesity The EPODE International Network (EIN), is a

Nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

, and is a contribution to the response to the need and demand from the global community in the fight against childhood obesity and

Non-communicable disease A non-communicable disease (NCD) is a disease that is not transmissible directly from one person to another. NCDs include Parkinson's disease, autoimmune diseases, strokes, most heart diseases, most cancers, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, os ...

s (NCDs), through sustainable and large-sale Community Based Programmes (CBPs) for childhood obesity prevention. In light of the encouraging experiences and results of the EPODE methodology (Towns in Belgium that implemented the program saw a 22 per cent decrease in overweight children), the EPODE International Network, was created in 2011 as a response to the global demand for action concerning the increasing international prevalence of overweight and

obesity Obesity is a medical condition, sometimes considered a disease, in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that it may negatively affect health. People are classified as obese when their body mass index (BMI)—a person's we ...

and the related non-communicable diseases. The EPODE International Network works to promote and enhance the global movement to prevent childhood obesity by supporting Community Based Programmes (CBPs) for childhood obesity prevention through sustainable and large-sale strategies that mobilise a multi-stakeholder dynamic.

General Organisation of EPODE International Network

The EPODE International Network is an NGO, a network of community-based and school-based

-prevention programmes as well as healthy active initiatives aimed at preventing childhood

adiposity Adipose tissue, body fat, or simply fat is a loose connective tissue composed mostly of adipocytes. In addition to adipocytes, adipose tissue contains the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of cells including preadipocytes, fibroblasts, vascular en ...

& overweight in children. This NGO facilitates the sharing of experiences, best practices and tools at the global level for continuous improvement and strengthening of its members. EIN also endeavours to ensure the sustainability of CBPs, SBPs & HAIs over time, contributing to the global movement to reduce and prevent childhood overweight and obesity. The network is coordinated by a dedicated unit and is supported by 3 platforms, gathering a broad diversity of actors: * A Scientific Board and Platform, with 18 internationally recognized experts in the fields of

nutrition Nutrition is the biochemical and physiological process by which an organism uses food to support its life. It provides organisms with nutrients, which can be metabolized to create energy and chemical structures. Failure to obtain sufficient n ...

and physical activity to provide scientific guidance for the implementation and evaluation processes to prevent childhood obesity. * A Ministers’ Club, gathering Ministers, State Secretaries, members of Parliament and Mayors to raise awareness on the childhood obesity issue and to advocate for a strong and sustainable political involvement in the development of CBPs, SBPs & HAIs around the world. * A Public-Private Partnership Platform, linking representatives of the civil society, corporate sector, NGOs and institutions to stimulate multistakeholder, concerted and coordinated partnerships supporting the implementation of CBPs around the world. In addition, the EPODE International Network holds regional and global forums which represent a call for global perspectives, solutions and commitments to solve the obesity and NCDs crisis worldwide.

Objectives

EPODE International Network’s overall objective is to build international capacity and capability for multipartner community-based childhood obesity-prevention programmes (CBPs) in countries by: # Facilitating best practice sharing between EIN member childhood obesity-prevention programmes # Providing EIN members visibility at global level # Gathering leading political representatives to place and maintain childhood obesity prevention at the top of agendas # Gathering the leading global experts to build greater scientific and field evidence in preventing obesity in children and overweight kids # Forging links for greater dialogue between all stakeholders from Public, Civic and Private Sectors (civil society, corporate sector, institutions) The EPODE International Network has more than 30 childhood obesity-prevention programme members in over 20 countries. By 2015 EPODE International Network will involve more than 400,000,000 people worldwide.

Activities

In order to support its member childhood obesity-prevention programmes, the EIN organises regional and global meetings in order to facilitate best practice sharing and hold capacity building workshops, specific to the needs of its members. The EIN Scientific Advisory Board is also active in providing key support to members of the network in numerous ways, and notably providing valuable evaluation support and assisting programme members with the publication of their results. Some activities include attempts to curb fast-food outlets near schools. In France, Fleurbaix-Laventie Ville Santé (FLVS), a food and nutrition project, were taken up by 10 mid-sized French towns as part of a wider pilot scheme, EPODE, aimed at preventing obesity among five to 12-year-olds.

Network members

The following countries around the world are members of the EPODE International Network: *

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

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Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedon ...

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France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

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Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...

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Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

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Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

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::An EPODE Umbria Region Obesity Intervention Study reveals the Umbria region has now reached the alarming prevalence of 36% obesity in children *

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

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Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...

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Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

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Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

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Slovakia Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the s ...

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Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

– Thao *

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

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Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

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Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

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*

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

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Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

Muevete Y Metete En Cintura
* Mexico - Colima - 5 Pasos Por Tu Salud Para Vivir Mejor * Mexico - Hidalgo - Ya Bájale * Mexico - Sonora- 5 Pasos - Sonora * Mexico - Aguascalientes 2 - 5 Pasos Por Un Aguascalientes Saludable * Mexico - Puebla - 5 Pasos Por Tu Salud En Familia * Mexico - Durango - Atrevete Vive Saludable En 5 Pasos * Mexico - Aguascalientes - 5 Pasos Por Tu Salud * Mexico
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* Mexico - Edomex 5 Pasos - Control De Peso En Capulhuac *

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

World Fit World Fit is a program of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), and the United States Olympians and Paralympians Association (USOP) to promote physical fitness and the Olympic Games ideals to school children through kids fitness programs, ...

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Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

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New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

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Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...

– Health Promotion *

Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...

– Health Promotion

EPODE Ministers' Club

The EIN Ministers’ Club facilitates personal relationships between elected representatives from EPODE Programmes and existing community-based programmes from international regions or countries interested in developing obesity-prevention strategies. Members of the Ministers’ Club includes elected representatives such as ministers and secretaries (health, sports, urbanism, education, agriculture…), members of parliaments, governors, and mayors of cities involved in community-based childhood obesity-prevention programs.

EPODE Ministers' Club leadership

José Ángel Córdova José Ángel Córdova Villalobos (born 19 August 1953, in Mexico) is a Mexican politician who served as Secretary of Health and Secretary of Public Education during Felipe Calderón administration. Córdova Villalobos obtained a medical degree, a ...

President of EPODE Ministers' Club - 2013 *

John Hill (Australian politician) John David Hill (born 3 December 1949), Australian politician, represented the electoral district of Kaurna in the South Australian House of Assembly for the Australian Labor Party (South Australian Branch), Labor Party from 1997 to 2014. Born ...

Bibliography

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References

{{reflist, 2

External links

EPODE International Network
2011 establishments in Belgium Medical and health organisations based in Belgium Obesity organizations International medical and health organizations Physical exercise