15th June 17, International: World Obesity is encouraging event organisers to create healthier meetings as part of its international campaign ‘Healthy Venues’ whilst at The Meetings Show this year. The association, which represents over 300 national bodies concerned with obesity, is calling for event organisers to do more for their delegate’s mobility and health.
World Obesity itself organises a number of large meetings around the world, and has highlighted the meetings and events industry as a key area of focus in their fight against the global obesity epidemic. The association joined the SEC, the first venue to achieve the accreditation, at The Meetings Show to encourage more and more event organisers to encourage more healthier options for delegates.
“The accreditation is awarded to venues, but the responsibility should still lie with the event organisers to ensure they are doing everything they can to encourage positive habits for their delegates,” comments Shaba Haque, Head of Events, World Obesity. “Large conferences and meetings can be really difficult places to be when you’re trying to follow a healthy lifestyle, we need to make these environments more supportive for delegates.”
World Obesity launched the ‘Healthy Venues’ accreditation as a way for venues to create healthier meeting environments for visitors, but is also putting pressure on the event organisers to show more proactivity. The association also recently spoke at the World Association Congress to an audience of over 180 event planners on the importance of encouraging healthy activities and less sedentary behaviour at meetings.
Already the Scottish Event Campus (Silver), the Vancouver Convention Centre (Bronze) and the Convention Centre Dublin (Bronze) have all gained the Healthy Venues accreditation. World Obesity joined the Scottish Event Campus at The Meeting Show to raise awareness of the global obesity epidemic and the massive contribution the events industry can make.
“This industry can be a major win for us in our global battle against obesity,” concluded Shaba. “Every day the industry hosts millions of people in events around the world. If we take on our responsibility we can make a major difference on both a personal, and a global level.”
