ANNUAL REPORT 2022 DESIDERATA

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mãe e filha comendo melancia

Childhood and adolescent obesity

Childhood obesity is a multifactorial condition that has become a serious public health problem worldwide. In 2020, the World Obesity Federation estimated that 158 million children older than five years were overweight. It has been estimated that 254 million children and adolescents worldwide will be overweight in the next decade. In Brazil, the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System indicates that nearly 31% of the children and adolescents seen in SUS primary healthcare units in 2022 were overweight.

Obesity is a risk factor for diabetes and heart and respiratory diseases during childhood and in adulthood, affecting the quality of life and proper development of children and adolescents and placing a burden on the healthcare system. Taking action to reduce the growing number of obesity cases has been even a greater challenge due to the health, political, and economic crises that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. Social inequalities were aggravated by the pandemic, consequently increasing food and nutritional insecurity (FNI). FNI encompasses concerns or uncertainties about access to and consumption of certain foods and also their complete lack in the household. During the pandemic, children and adolescents were the most affected by inadequate access to good-quality nutrition.

In recent years, the double burden of malnutrition, closely related to FNI in its different degrees, has been observed. This double burden consists of the coexistence of undernutrition, nutritional deficiencies, overweight, and obesity, and it worsened with the health crisis.

Desiderata undertakes integrated actions to raise awareness among public administrators and to promote the adoption of public policies for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity, including knowledge production and dissemination, data monitoring, mobilization efforts, and advocacy actions in the legislative and executive branches.

Três crianças sorrindo em um piquenique.

Political pressure for the prevention of childhood and adolescent obesity

Strategy

Pressure on legislative and executive powers for the formulation, approval, and implementation of public policies that promote healthy and adequate nutrition among children and adolescents.

Results

ícone check Local bill n.o 95/2022

Approved on December 11, 2022, giving rise to Local Act no. 3.756/2023 in Niterói, which prohibits the supply of ultraprocessed foods at public and private schools. The first of its kind to be approved in the state of Rio de Janeiro, it impacts the nutritional health of approximately 26,176 students enrolled in regular education and 1,358 students enrolled in special education.

ícone check Local bill n.o 4198/2021 in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro

> Political pressure for expediting the processing of Bill n.o 4198/2021, proposed by congresswoman Lucinha. The Bill seeks to regulate the use and sale of ultraprocessed foods in cafeterias and other commercial food establishments at public and private schools in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

> Approval of the bill on March 24, 2022, in the first voting round, with rejection of the amendments, as advocated by Desiderata.

Grupo de pessoas segurando faixa 'Eu digo sim para uma infância saudável em Niterói'

Patient healthcare trajectory for the prevention, surveillance, and treatment of childhood and adolescent obesity in Niterói

Strategy

Partnership with the Local Health Department of Niterói for the systematization of food and nutrition surveillance measures, promotion of healthy and adequate nutrition and of physical activity in two health districts of Niterói: Pendotiba and North II.

Results

Development and implementation of childhood obesity care in partnership with health management professionals in the local health districts.

Guia de bolso com os fluxogramas assistenciais com a estratégia de cuidado
Capacitação de 82,6% dos profissionais da APS das duas regionais, de forma híbrida
Livros

Training of primary healthcare workers

Strategy

Training of primary healthcare workers in the state of Rio de Janeiro through courses on childhood and adolescent obesity.

Results

Lançamento do novo curso “Cuidado Multiprofissional na APS para o Manejo da Obesidade infantojuvenil”
Capacitação de 771 profissionais de saúde nos cuidados relacionados à obesidade infantojuvenil
Formação de 29 turmas com 8 tutores de diferentes áreas e com experiência na Atenção Primária à Saúde
Grupo de pessoas posando para a foto à frente de uma tela com a marca do Isntituto Desiderata

Research and dissemination of information

Strategy

Production and dissemination of health information about childhood and adolescent obesity and topics closely related to it, with the aim of raising awareness of the civil society and supporting the implementation of public policies

Results

ícone de um mapa do Brasil
Launch of the 4th edition of the Panorama of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity, with inclusion of food consumption data from all Brazilian municipalities between 2015 and 2022
ícone de um gráfico de pizza
Support for the research into Commercialization of Foods in Brazilian Schools (CAEB) in Niterói, which assesses the nutritional profile of foods sold in the cafeterias of private schools
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Publication of 127 articles in the media based on data extracted from the panorama
ícone de um gráfico de pizza
13.334 accesses to the Panorama of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity
Crianças brincando.

Strategic networks

Long-term collective and integrated initiatives are essential to confront the challenges brought about the high rates of obesity among children and adolescents. To achieve that, Desiderata believes it is essential to collaborate with national and international groups that can enhance the impact of their initiatives, such as:

Alliance for Healthy and Adequate Food

Coalition that brings together professionals, associations, and social movements devoted to the promotion and protection of healthy and adequate eating practices. The aim of the group is to encourage the advancement of public policies that ensure food and nutritional security for the population. Desiderata joined the Steering Committee in 2021.

NCD Alliance

International organization that brings together over 2,000 organizations, including civil society movements, government partners, and UN agencies, which formulate policies and practices regarding non-communicable diseases worldwide, including cancer and obesity.

Food Policy Program

Drawing upon the vast experience of Bloomberg Philanthropies in tobacco control, the Food Policy Program urges civil society organizations and research institutes to promote efficient public policies for the regulation of practices, foods, and environments. In Brazil, the following organizations and institutes participate in the Food Policy Program: (ACT Health Promotion); (Brazilian Institute of Consumer Protection); (Center for Epidemiological Research into Nutrition and Health), and the Desiderata Institute.

Early Childhood Coalition

Group of organizations that closely monitor bills dealing with early childhood. The coalition includes the Maria Cecília Souto Vidigal Foundation, Alana Institute, Desiderata Institute, and the Early Childhood National Network.

Intersectoral Forum for the Control of NCDs

Its goal is to forge partnerships between the main public sector, private sector, and third sector organizations for the control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This is a continuing initiative on digital platforms and with semi-annual meetings, in which more than 100 organizations participate.

Brazilian Ministry of Health and PAHO

Participation of Desiderata in the working group for formulation of guidelines on the Conflict of Interest Prevention and Management (CoI) in Food and Nutrition Policies and Programs.

World Obesity Federation

The World Obesity Federation brings together organizations from around the world involved in research into and treatment of obesity and its associated comorbidities. Desiderata became a member of the Federation in 2022.

Child Food Insecurity Network

The network, led by the José Luiz Egídyo Setúbal Foundation, consists of a group of organizations that work on the child protection agenda, focusing on the fight against hunger and on the promotion of healthy and adequate eating practices. Desiderata is part of the network’s advocacy forefront.

Criança comendo brócolis.