On 17th November 2009 Enrich celebrated its second annual conference of this year. This event took place in the Committee of the Regions in Brussels, Belgium, and brought together speakers and participants from different institutions and regions of Europe. The subject of the debate was “Healthy Weight”, a very important topic at this moment when overweight and obesity are increasing at an alarming rate in Europe. Obesity is one of the most serious public health problems in Europe because it increases significantly the risk of many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers. Today, these diseases represent the biggest burden of diseases and are the leading cause of mortality in Europe as well as worldwide.

• Programme

Session I - European strategy on healthy weight

• DG-SANCO, "The European Commission policy in Nutrition and Physical Activity" - Jaroslaw Waligora
• DG-AGRI, “The Tasty Bunch: Eat it, Drink it, Move it” - Guadalupe Pérez
• DG-EDUCATION, "The EU and HEPA promotion after the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty" - Jacob Kornbeck
• CONSORTIUM (HEALTH-AGRICULTURAL), "Obesity proofing EU Policy - Integrating Health in the Common Agriculture Policy" - Chris White
• COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS, “CoR opinion on a Strategy for European on nutrition, overweight and obesity" - Hélène Moraut

Session II - Successful European projects

• EPODE: "A methodology to prevent childhood obesity, involving local stakeholders in a sustainable way" - Yann le Bodo
• IMPALA: "Good Practice in physical activity infrastructure development in Europe" - Alfred Rütten
• ALPHA: "Assessment of Levels of PHysical Activity and fitness" - Jonatan Ruiz

Session III - Good practices in the regions I

• Tuscany, "The challange of obesity: From a global strategy to a local application, the experience of Azienda USL 7 Siena" - Marco Luvisi
• Andalusia, “Steps for a healthy life” - Jesús Muñoz Bellerín
• East Midlands, "Establishing a Regional Platform for Food, Physical Activity and Health" - Kath Childs
• Aquitaine, "Programme for Nutrition, Prevention and Health of children and teenagers in Aquitaine, France" - Caroline Carriere and Martine Ruello

Session IV - Good practices in the regions II

• Tuscany, "The obesity prevention in Tuscany Ten years of experience" - Mariano Giacchi
• Tuscany, "Healthy food for life" - Paolo Miccoli
• Algarve, “Algarve policy on nutrition and physical activity” - Teresa Sancho and Eduardo Fernandes
• Umbria, “Lifestyles and obesity in Umbria region: results from the Italian behavioural risk factor surveillance system” - Carla Bietta and Maria Donata Giaimo