Mobilizing governments and society to combat obesity: Reflections on how data from the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative are helping to drive policy progress

To meet the need for regular and reliable data on the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children in Europe, the World Health Organization European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative was established in 2007. The resulting robust surveillance system has improved understanding of the public health challenge of childhood overweight and obesity in the WHO European Region. For the past decade, data from COSI have helped to inform and drive policy action on nutrition and physical activity in the region. Further collaborative action will be key to tackling this major public health challenge which affects children throughout the region.