Abstract
The increasing prevalence of obesity among the world's children and youth was the impetus for an international conference convened in Toronto, Canada to examine issues related to physical activity and obesity in children (June 24–27, 2007). The goal of the conference was to assimilate, interpret and share scientific evidence with key stakeholders to develop recommendations concerning effective physical activity policies and programs to address obesity in children. The conference was attended by approximately 1000 delegates from 33 countries who gathered to listen to the invited speakers and to share information on promising practices related to the promotion of physical activity with the aim to reduce the burden of obesity in children. The major topics addressed at the conference included the biological and behavioural causes of obesity, current and past levels of physical activity and sedentarism in children, the role of the social, family and built environment in addressing the physical activity deficit, and the role of legislation and industry in promoting physical activity. Promising physical activity interventions among children were presented, and important research, policy and practice recommendations to address the issue of physical inactivity and obesity were provided.
Acknowledgements
The organizing committee of the International Conference on Physical Activity and Obesity in Children included Barry McPherson (Conference Chair, Wilfrid Laurier University), Claude Bouchard (Scientific Program Chair, Pennington Biomedical Research Center), Jamie Burr (York University), Cora Lynn Craig (Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Centre), Norman Gledhill (York University), Veronica Jamnik (York University), Peter T. Katzmarzyk (Queen's University/Pennington Biomedical Research Center), Art Quinney (University of Alberta) and Art Salmon (Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion). The International Conference on Physical Activity and Obesity in Children was held June 24-27, 2007 at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto, Ontario. The conference was supported by generous contributions from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion, Public Health Agency of Canada, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, Cancer Care Ontario, Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Healthy Active Kids Canada, Canadian Diabetes Association, Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, YMCA Ontario, Kellogg's, Weight Watchers, Steps Count, Queen's University, American College of Sports Medicine, York University, ParticipACTION, Parks and Recreation Ontario, Canadian Obesity Network, and Trifit, Inc.