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".
Following the first six main Dutch cities (Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Veghel and Zwolle) joining the JOGG programme during 2010, the first half of this year, the second group of JOGG-towns started with 7 new municipalities (Tynaarlo, Borger-Odoorn, Meppel, IJsselstein, Delft, Leiden and Breda). The aim is that in 2015, 75 municipalities in the Netherlands will become active JOGG towns.
The Covenant on Healthy Weight is a unique collaboration of a total of 27 actors from (national and local) governments, industry and civil society organizations, which are collectively committed to fight against the rising trend of overweight and obesity. The main goals of the covenant are increasing awareness of health risks related to overweight and obesity and achieving an arrest in the evolution of overweight and obesity in children and adults.
