International Obesity Task Force

The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) is the advocacy arm of the International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO), an umbrella organization for national obesity associations whose aim is to promote understanding of obesity and related diseases through scientific research, and development policies for their prevention and management. The IOTF also serves as a global network of experts on obesity and health and as an incubator of research and ideas related to obesity prevention and management. The mission of the IOTF is to alert the governments and general populations throughout the world of the impending health crisis produced by increasing rates of obesity, and to persuade governments to take action immediately to counter this threat. The IOTF works with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other nongovernmental organizations and stakeholders, including partners in the Global Prevention Alliance, toward this goal.

The IOTF has declared obesity to be “the millennium disease” in recognition of the fact that it was first introduced into the international classification [Page 410]of diseases over 50 years ago, and is reaching epidemic proportions in early years of the 21st century. As stated on the IOTF Web site, over 300 million people around the world are obese (defined as a body mass index [BMI] over 30) and their numbers are rising; because serious health consequences are associated with obesity, this situation demands recognition and immediate action by governments throughout the world.

Childhood obesity is a particular focus of the IOTF. A working group consisting of eight scientists from Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Netherlands is consulting on guidelines to reduce food marketing to children (under age 18), currently known as “The Sydney Principles.” These guidelines, in draft form as of May 2007, are based on the following principles: the right of children to adequate, safe, and nutritious food; the particular vulnerability of children to commercial exploitation, and responsibility of parents, governments, civil society, and the private sector to protect them; the necessity of statutory regulations (rather than merely industry self-regulation) to reduce marketing aimed at children and the deleterious effects this has on their diets; a broad definition of commercial promotions, including conventional advertising and media, product placement, sponsorships, and internet-based promotions; assurance that schools and child care settings remain free of commercial promotions; regulation of cross-border media such as satellite and cable television and the internet; and the need for enforcement and evaluation of the effectiveness of regulation.

A number of informational and promotional materials are available from the IOTF Web site. Press releases and other media information are presented, including links to current news and research reports, and reports from international conferences. Separate Web pages are provided for cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, which include a summary of current knowledge of the relationship between obesity and the disease in question, statistical tables, and links to further information and to other organizations working in each field. A large general links section of the Web site includes links to many other Web sites, including academic organizations, campaigns (such as the BBC Education Health Site “Fighting Fat, Fighting Fit”), online journals, relevant articles, governmental sites, pharmaceutical companies, professional societies, conferences, and online articles and studies.

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