Objectives of EEN
Facilitate the implementation of CBI programmes
The EPODE European Network (EEN) is a European project running from 2008 to 2011 with the support of the European Commission DG Health and Consumers. The Network was created by the French company, Protéines, based in Paris and is designed to facilitate the implementation of EPODE-like programmes in other European countries. The EEN will contribute to the EU vision of multi-stakeholder partnerships united in their determination to promote healthier lifestyles, improve diet and physical activity habits, and prevent obesity and other non-communicable diseases in European populations.
The EPODE European Network (EEN), has been designed to facilitate the implementation of CBI programmes using EPODE methodology in other European countries.
The first objective of the EEN is to raise political, institutional and scientific awareness of the relevancy of local, long-term and multi-stakeholders approaches to prevent childhood obesity. The aim is thus to stimulate relevant stakeholders - i.e. political representatives, city and regional structures, national public health agencies, private stakeholders - to commit themselves in implementing effective EPODE-similar local strategies across Europe.
The second objective of the EEN is to enrich existing methodologies and deliver concrete guidelines, to be transferable to new countries willing to deploy an EPODE-similar programme. The EEN is a « think and do tank » gathering key experts, political and institutional representatives who will focus on the EPODE approach and its 4 pillars through:
- The production of concrete guidelines regarding the EPODE approach and its 4 pillars:
- The importance of political awareness, willingness and involvement
- Good practices for the design, delivery and especially evaluation of EPODE-similar CBIs
- The interest of network expertise and social marketing approaches
- The legal and ethical framework of public/private partnerships.
- The dissemination of these guidelines in order to raise political, institutional and scientific awareness to the importance of local, long-term and multi-stakeholder approaches.
- The identification and follow-up of relevant teams willing to implement CBI networks, using the EPODE methodology in other European countries and regions.
More information: EPODE European Network memo
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Key References
- Commission of European Communities, 2007, "A Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity related health issues"
- Romon M. & Al., 2008, "Downward trends in the prevalence of childhood overweight in the setting of 12-year school- and community-based programmes".
- Katan M.B., 2009, "Weight-loss diets for the prevention and treatment of obesity".
You can now watch the video of the EPODE programme presented by Dr Jean-Michel Borys at The Falling Walls conference, initiated by the Einstein Foundation Berlin on the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Dr. Susan Jebb, Head of Nutrition and Health Research at the Medical Research Council (UK), presents the stakes of the governments and other actors in the prevention of childhood obesity, from national policies to local coordinated action, and the added value of the EPODE methodology.
