Promoting Healthier Futures: Novo Nordisk's Initiative
Novo Nordisk is taking a significant step forward in combating childhood obesity through its new global initiative. This ambitious Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative aims to enhance the well-being and health of children, particularly those residing in disadvantaged urban communities. With a robust investment of over 250 million Danish kroner, the program is set to positively impact lives across six cities on five continents, focusing on essential elements like physical activity and healthy eating.
Understanding the Initiative's Foundations
At the core of this initiative is a commitment to utilize evidence-based strategies for tangible outcomes. Novo Nordisk, alongside a coalition of city governments, universities, and non-profit organizations, is designing interventions that are sensitive to the unique needs of local communities. By measuring the changes in health behaviors and overall well-being, this initiative plans to assess health-related quality of life and body mass index (BMI) among participants aged 6-13, with evaluations set at various points throughout the initiative.
Fostering Community Engagement
Novo Nordisk emphasizes the importance of collaboration in its efforts. The Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative aims to engage multiple stakeholders, including city leaders, educators, and health advocates, to ensure that strategies are not only implemented effectively but also encouraged through community participation. The goal is to collect reliable data from around 1,000 children in each city to understand how these interventions can be tailored and improved over time.
Gaining Insights to Drive Change
Katrine DiBona, Global Head of Sustainability & Public Affairs at Novo Nordisk, underscores the urgency of addressing childhood obesity, which is rapidly increasing globally. The insights gained from this initiative will serve as crucial reference points for city leaders in developing preventative measures against childhood obesity. The program is also an extension of existing efforts through Cities for Better Health, which has over a decade of experience in promoting health in urban environments.
Combating a Growing Epidemic
The rising tide of childhood obesity is a global concern, with more than 390 million children aged 5–19 experiencing overweight conditions. Of these, around 160 million are living with obesity—a phenomenon that significantly elevates the risk of early onset type 2 diabetes and sets the stage for adult obesity. This initiative targets these alarming statistics by directly addressing the needs of lower socioeconomic communities, which experience greater health risks.
Learn More About Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative
The Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative (COPI) operates under a robust framework, facilitating scalable and sustainable interventions while fostering partnerships. With support from organizations like Delivery Associates and the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT), this initiative stands to offer vital guidance to urban planners and community health advocates worldwide. The lessons learned will inform best practices in the fields of health promotion and disease prevention.
Cities for Better Health: A Wider Mission
This initiative is part of the larger Cities for Better Health platform, a collaborative global partnership that integrates public and private sector efforts to advance health outcomes. By leveraging local partnerships, Cities for Better Health promotes healthy eating and lifestyle choices among children and at-risk populations. The forward-thinking agenda has seen participation from over 50 cities and 300 partners, all dedicated to fostering healthier communities.
About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a globally recognized healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. It is dedicated to driving change to combat chronic diseases, primarily focusing on diabetes and its related complications. By promoting accessible medication and innovative care solutions, Novo Nordisk aims to enhance patient quality of life on a global scale. Employing approximately 69,000 individuals across 80 countries, the company markets its products in around 170 nations.
Contacts for Further Information
Media enquiries:
Ambre James-Brown
+45 3079 9289
abmo@novonordisk.com
Liz Skrbkova (US)
+1 609 917 0632
lzsk@novonordisk.com
Investor relations:
Jacob Martin Wiborg Rode
+45 3075 5956
jrde@novonordisk.com
David Heiberg Landsted
+45 3077 6915
dhel@novonordisk.com
Sina Meyer
+45 3079 6656
azey@novonordisk.com
Ida Schaap Melvold
+45 3077 5649
idmg@novonordisk.com
Frederik Taylor Pitter
+1 609 613 0568
fptr@novonordisk.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main goal of the Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative?
The main goal is to prevent childhood obesity by promoting physical activity and healthy eating habits among children in disadvantaged urban communities.
How much is Novo Nordisk investing in this initiative?
Novo Nordisk is investing over 250 million Danish kroner in this initiative to support various interventions.
In how many cities will this initiative be launched?
The initiative will be launched in six cities located on five continents.
Who are the key partners in this initiative?
The initiative collaborates with city governments, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations to design and implement its interventions.
What demographic will the initiative primarily focus on?
The initiative particularly focuses on children aged 6-13 years from disadvantaged urban communities, aiming to collect and measure health-related data from approximately 1,000 participants in each city.
