The World Obesity Federation initiates the Healthy Venue Award

12.10.2015

„The obesity crisis is one of the biggest challenges of our time and it is more important than ever that there is strong and unified global action to tackle it“. In the United States alone there are an estimated 225 million visitors to conventions, conferences, congresses, exhibitions, incentives or corporate meetings. Even if these events are organised around health issues: sadly, they often are unwholesome affairs caused by an unwise choice of food types. Aggravated by a lack of physical activities to compensate the caloric intake, subtle weight-gain is sowing the seeds for obesity-related diseases. In order to promote and secure health and well-being within conference venues, the Healthy Venues Award was conceived as part of World Obesity Federation’s Action Initiative. The organisation represents professional members of the scientific, medical and research communities from over 50 regional and national obesity associations, whose mission it is to reduce, prevent and treat obesity on a global scale.

Obesity is an epidemic that urgently needs to be tackled! http://www.worldobesity.org/resources/world-map-obesity/ Copyright World Obesity Federation/WHO

Obesity is an epidemic that needs to be tackled urgently!
http://www.worldobesity.org/resources/world-map-obesity/
Copyright World Obesity Federation

The Healthy Venue Award Scheme

World Obesity’s Head of Events Natasha Joyner explains what it is all about:
„Alongside a formal accreditation process we will work with venue managers and planners to improve their health footprint (their “healthprint”). We will work in partnership, looking holistically at the attendee experience, including healthy meals and snacks from vending machines, food content labelling and encouraging people to use the stairs rather than lifts and sign-posting physical activity options around the venue. Initially targeted at conference venues, our aim for extension would be to roll it out to venues such as hotels and convention bureaus to cover all conferences at a destination.”

The Healthy Venue Scheme is an initiative to fight obesity-fostering conference diets.

The Healthy Venue Scheme is an initiative to fight obesity-provoking conference diets.

The federation has recently welcomed to the club the German-based – and globally acting – agency tmf dialogue marketing. Natasha:
„We are very pleased to have an organisation of tmf dialogue marketing’s calibre join us as Champions of this programme. Their industry experience can help us expand the reach of this programme, which is very exciting.”

With Healthy Meetings gaining importance, tmf dialogue marketing embraces, supports and consults on initiatives for healthier congresses and meetings of associations, corporate meeting planners and their service suppliers in the meetings market.

Johanna Fischer, the company's managing director, stresses the importance of this topic: "We think that the question of how to improve health quality and access to offers for delegates of international events is gaining much importance, due to increased stress levels of employees and resulting health problems – which then lead to high cost burdens for employers."

Johanna Fischer, tmf’s managing director, stresses the importance of this topic:
“We think that the question of how to improve health quality and access to offers for delegates of international events is gaining much importance, due to increased stress levels of employees and resulting health problems – which then lead to high cost burdens for employers.”

“The meetings industry should be more aware that both corporations and associations build up momentum of how to protect their delegates from unfavorable health impacts during travel to international congresses. Improved offers can also support winning congresses and meetings in the future. tmf dialogue treats this topic as high priority, therefore we are happy to support World Obesity in promoting their programme. We are very proud to be part of this important initiative!“

tmf dialogue marketing enjoys international recognition as specialists for dialogue marketing in the meetings market. With a comprehensive range of expertise, the company supports leading convention bureaux and destinations as well as top-level suppliers in the development of mutually beneficial relationships with planners.

The agency has offices in Germany and India. www.tmf-dialogue.com

How to become a Healthy Venue Champion? Details are here:
http://www.worldobesity.org/what-we-do/healthy-venues-scheme/

Image source: ©UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity.
http://www.uconnruddcenter.org