The Nordic network Promokids, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), WHO Regional Office for Europe and the Nordic Welfare Centre, are pleased to invite you to the hybrid conference Supporting healthy growth: A Nordic approach to childhood obesity prevention, 15 December 2026.
Healthy growth during childhood provides a solid foundation for lifelong health and should be considered a key public health target for society at large. Nevertheless, overweight and obesity are increasing among children, contributing to short- and long-term physical and psychosocial ill-health in the Nordic countries. To halt the rising trend, systematic initiatives across different policy sectors are required to build a health-promoting environment for children in the Nordics.
A new report mapping and comparing policy initiatives on health promotion and childhood obesity prevention in the Nordics, will be launched and discussed at the conference. The report highlights policy gaps and provides knowledge-based support to policymakers who work on strategies to improve child health.
We welcome policymakers, senior officials, researchers, and civil society representatives to join the conference. On-site participation by invitation only.
Moderator: Professor Tiina Laatikainen, University of Eastern Finland, Finland
Confirmed speakers and panellists in order of appearance:
– Chief Specialist Päivi Mäki, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Finland
– Director Kremlin Wickramasinghe, Division of Prevention and Health Promotion, WHO Europe
– Technical Officer Julianne Williams, Division of Prevention and Health Promotion, WHO Europe
– Chief Scientific Officer Katarina Steen Carlsson, The Swedish Institute for Health Economics Sweden (IHE), Sweden
– Secretary General Marjaana Lahti-Koski, Finnish Heart Association, Finland
– Principal Project Manager Lene Winther Ringgaard, Centre for childhood health, Denmark
– Senior Advisor Sofia Lourenço, Danish Cancer Society, Denmark
– Special Advisor Knut-Inge Klepp, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
– Medical Officer Carl-Erik Flodmark, Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare, Sweden
The list will be updated continuously.
