Childhood Obesity as a Global Problem: a Cross-sectional Survey on Global Awareness and National Program Implementation.

Objective: The rising global epidemic of childhood obesity is a major public health challenge. Despite the urgency, there is a lack of data on the awareness and implementation of preventative measures. The aim of this study was to identify areas for improvement in the prevention and management of childhood obesity worldwide.

Agents of Change for Mental Health: A Survey of Young People's Aspirations for Participation Across Five Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Purpose: Effective intervention, policy, and research in mental health and well-being (MHWB) require young people to be understood not only as beneficiaries, but also as active agents in codesigning and implementing initiatives. To identify pathways for young people's participation in promoting MHWB in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), this study surveyed young people's aspirations for engagement, their spheres of influence, capacity building needs, and key barriers to participation.

Methods: Using U-Report, United Nations Children's Emergency Fund's social messaging tool and data collection platform, we distributed a short quantitative survey to a nonrepresentative, but large sample of young people aged 15-29 across five LMICs: Nigeria, Brazil, Jamaica, South Africa, and Burundi.

Supporting every school to become a foundation for healthy lives.

As a setting where children and adolescents live and learn, linked to the family and embedded within the wider community, schools have an important influence on every student's health. Many health interventions have used schools as a platform, often for standalone programmatic initiatives to reduce health risks, and sometimes for more comprehensive approaches, but the interventions, uptake, and sustainability are generally disappointing. Evidence shows that, to improve health and to reduce inequality, all students must attend school from a young age and for as long as possible, and their educational success therein must be maximised.

Life course approach to prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.

A successful approach to reducing the burden of non-communicable disease requires action at all stages of life, argue