The European Commission published the EU Action Plan on Childhood Obesity (2014–2020) to support countries in preventing and reducing childhood obesity through coordinated, evidence-based action.

In Portugal, 29 out of 41 measures were implemented, placing the country among those with the highest levels of implementation in the EU.

Annex V provides a colour-coded, cross-country snapshot of national progress in implementing policies aligned with the EU Action Plan Areas for Action. CEIDSS contributed to Portugal’s country profile, with the MUN-SI Programme, the EAT Mediterranean Project, the Obesity Zero Programme, and the AMEA Kids Project highlighted.

As part of this progress, CEIDSS’s Obesity Zero programme was identified as a European best practice, recognised across three key areas: promoting healthier environments, informing and empowering families, and encouraging physical activity.

You can find more policies and best practices HERE.

Celebrated each year during the first week of August, World Breastfeeding Week, led by WHO, UNICEF, Ministries of Health, and civil society partner, recognises breastfeeding as a cornerstone of lifelong health, development, and equity.

This year, under the banner of WHO’s Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures campaign, the Week will highlight the vital, ongoing support that women and babies need from healthcare systems throughout their breastfeeding journey.

As part of this global initiative, CEIDSS is sharing a series of infographics that showcase why breastfeeding matter, not only for babies, but also for mothers, families, and communities. These resources illustrate how breastfeeding promotes lifelong health, reduces health inequalities, and contributes to sustainable development.

Explore the infographics HERE, learn the facts, and share them to spread awareness.

Together, we can protect, promote, and support breastfeeding at every level!

On July 18, the MUN-SI program, coordinated by CEIDSS, delivered training to around 70 Operational Assistants from schools in Oeiras, as part of the 2024/2025 MUN-SI Oeiras program initiative: “Combating Food Waste at School.”

The purpose of this training was to raise awareness and build the skills of Operational Assistants who supervise school mealtimes, enabling them to promote the reduction of food waste through strategies of positive reinforcement and empathetic communication.

The session included a practical group exercise, in which participants analyzed hypothetical scenarios that could take place in the school canteen and selected, from three options, the most appropriate response.

Ana Rito, Director of CEIDSS, nutritionist, and Principal Investigator at INSA, coordinates the WHO Collaborating Centre for Nutrition and Childhood Obesity. With extensive international experience, she is a leading voice in the fields of nutrition and public health.

In an in-depth interview published in the latest issue of Viver Saudável magazine, Ana Rito shared her professional journey and addressed critical topics such as childhood obesity, the importance of nutritional surveillance, and the current challenges in combating obesity.

The full interview is available in the most recent edition of Viver Saudável, also distributed at the XXV Congress of Nutrition and Food of APN. An excerpt is accessible here.

The ECO Congress took place from May 11 to 14 in Málaga, Spain, bringing together researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and representatives from European projects dedicated to the prevention and treatment of obesity. The event provided a valuable opportunity to exchange scientific knowledge and best practices in the field.

Professor Ana Rito, head of the WHO Collaborating Center for Nutrition and Childhood Obesity, participated in the panel discussion titled “From Data to Action: Results from the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) Round 6 (2022–2024),” sharing the Portuguese results and emphasizing the importance of childhood nutritional surveillance.

There was also an opportunity to present, in the form of scientific posters, some of the work carried out by the CEIDSS team:

• “Obesity and Socioeconomic Vulnerabilities: Evidence from COSI Portugal Supporting Better 4U – A Tailored Approach To Weight Management”;
• “Family Wealth Inequality in Portuguese Children’s Health-Related Quality of Life According to Weight Status – Findings From Cosi/Who Europe Study”
• “Understanding the Intergenerational Impact of Obesity in Portugal: Data from COSI to Support Better 4U – An Innovative European Project”

It was a valuable moment of learning, knowledge exchange, and collaboration, with the added bonus of exploring the beautiful city of Málaga.

On May 11, Matilde Vicente represented CEIDSS team at the N2SMeeting & Abroad held at NOVA Medical School.
This event featured a panel of outstanding professionals, aiming to promote knowledge sharing and strengthen the connection with the professional reality in the field of Nutrition.

CEIDSS had the opportunity to showcase the projects and activities it has been developing.

On May 8 and 9, the CEIDSS team took part in the XXIV Congress of Food and Nutrition, held this year in the city of Braga.
The chosen theme was “The Time of Nutrition”, a reflection on the current challenges and opportunities in the field of nutrition.

The CEIDSS team actively participated in the event, with Professor Ana Rito moderating the roundtable “The role of co-creation in designing interventions – the example of young people” and the presentation of four scientific posters:

• “Portuguese tax on sugar-sweetened beverages: children’s consumption trends (COSI Portugal 2019–2022) and social media advertising”
• “Socioeconomic determinants, consumption behaviors and concern with food waste: perspectives from the Escola Missão Continente 2023/2024 program”
• “Perceptions of parents about the breakfast of primary school children – MUN-SI OEIRAS 2023/2024 program”
• “Relationship between children’s dietary habits, screen time and overweight – Escola Missão Continente (EMC) program”

In addition to being a valuable learning experience, the Congress of Food and Nutrition is also an opportunity to meet and reconnect with colleagues.

The 5th Plenary Session of the Strategic Council of Missão Continente took place on May 7th at the Lisbon Secret Spot, in Monsanto (Lisbon). The event was attended by representatives of the brand and institutional partners, including CEIDSS.

CEIDSS coordinates the Scientific Study of the Escola Missão Continente program, launched in 2021 and implemented in 35 schools nationwide. The study follows children in primary schools, promoting the Mediterranean Diet and encouraging healthy lifestyles.

The CEIDSS/EMC study assesses a set of key indicators for the promotion of children’s health, including attitudes and behaviors towards food, food literacy, physical activity and sedentary behavior, eating habits, and children’s nutritional status.

The results of the first three years of the Impact Measurement Study have proven to be very positive. Teachers highlight the quality of the materials as well as the relevance of the topics addressed. They also report active participation from the children, with good acceptance of the activities and a session length appropriate to their age group.

Following the presentation of the Escola Missão Continente program, the Impact Report, and the results of the Scientific Study, a discussion was held where questions were answered, and reflections and perspectives on the results and the future of Missão Continente for the coming years were shared.

On April 15, CEIDSS took part in the 2nd “Sintra Cresce Saudável” Meeting, held at the Olga Cadaval Cultural Center in Sintra.

The event brought together health professionals, educators, and institutional representatives to discuss strategies and share best practices in promoting child health, with a focus on balanced nutrition and active lifestyles.

Throughout the day, teachers from participating school clusters shared their experiences, highlighting the concrete impact of this initiative within school communities.

As an organization that develops projects in the field of nutrition and public health, CEIDSS reaffirms its commitment to health promotion, strengthening its role in events that contribute to building healthier and more sustainable school environments.

On 27 March, CEIDSS took part in the launch of the Quality Standards for Child and Youth Mental Health Services, organised by WHO/Europe. Developed with the involvement of children, young people, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, these standards aim to improve the quality of mental health services across the WHO European Region by promoting safer, more accessible, and person-centred care.

The event gathered experts, organisations, and representatives from across the Region. CEIDSS was represented by its Director, Professor Ana Rito, underscoring the organisation’s active role in international initiatives that promote public health. This participation reflects CEIDSS’s ongoing commitment to the health and well-being of children and young people, in line with WHO guidelines, and contributes to the continuous improvement of community-based mental health services.

Access the full document here.