First approach between AER and THAO Foundation:
How to prevent child obesity across all European regions?

Madrid (E), 29 May 2012

In view of a future cooperation between the Assembly of European Regions and THAO Foundation, Pascal Goergen, AER Secretary General and Karsten Uno Petersen, President of the AER Committee on Social Policy and Public Health participated at the VII THAO Meeting in Alcobendas, Madrid (E). They addressed the closing plenary session with the aim of introducing AER to THAO’s members and identifying synergies between the two organisations.

“This is the first step in introducing AER to THAO and establishing a bridge between our work in the regions and THAO actions at the regional and local level in Spain. We believe that THAO has an enormous potential and could generate additional value for our European Regions,” stated Pascal Goergen, AER Secretary General.

Background information about THAO foundation

The THAO programme aims to prevent childhood obesity by modifying behavioural patterns, such as eating habits, and promoting physical activity among children and their families. The initial programme targets children aged 3 to 12. Since 2010, an additional THAO early childhood programme has been launched, which is dedicated to 0 to 3 years old. The programme’s implementation foresees the active participation of the entire community, ranging from schools to health professionals, companies, media and local shop owners.

Identifying synergies between AER and THAO

“The main goal is to establish synergies between AER’s priorities and THAO’S activities. Both are working towards developing innovative ways to promote and deliver public health policy, working directly with young people and contributing to active and healthy ageing,” stated Karsten Uno Petersen, President of the AER Committee on Public Health. “THAO is an example of how education about nutrition at an early stage of life can prevent complications in later years. It is well known that investing in such programmes today can mean significant savings for our regions’ health and social systems in the near future,” he concluded.


For more information about THAO foundation:
http://www.thaoweb.com/


The Assembly of European Regions (AER – aer.eu) is the largest independent network of regions in wider Europe. Bringing together more than 250 regions from 35 countries and 16 interregional organisations, AER is the political voice of its members and a forum for interregional co-operation.


AER Contacts

Antonio Buscardini
Press & Communications Assistant
+33 3 88 22 74 44

Ourania Georgoutsakou
Senior Policy Coordinator
Committee ‘Social Policy and Public Health’
+32 2 880 95 65