An International Healthy Food Competition to Be Held to Prevent Obesity

Novo Nordisk and EAT announced that they are organizing the "International Healthy Food Challenge" to prevent obesity by creating healthy and sustainable food environments globally. Following the evaluation of applications from various countries around the world, 3 selected ideas will be able to win cash prizes of up to USD 100,000. The deadline for competition entries is 19 March… Novo Nordisk and EAT are calling for innovative solutions to prevent obesity by creating healthy and sustainable food environments worldwide and are organizing the "International Healthy Food Challenge." Those wishing to participate in the competition, which aims to reward innovations that will create healthy and sustainable food environments, need to register through novonordisk.com/thehealthyfoodchallenge and thehealthyfoodchallenge.com. The final registration deadline for the competition was announced as 19 March. Projects entering the competition must be innovative ideas that can be implemented within 2-3 years. Online information sessions will be held on 28 February and subsequently on 4 March to guide competition applicants. Following the submissions, 30 applicants who pass the first elimination will be able to develop their projects by the end of June. In the elimination in June, applicants reduced to 10 will be invited to a foundation training camp at a date to be determined between June and September to develop their projects. The 3 winning projects will be announced in October. Financing of up to USD 100,000 will be provided to implement the 3 selected ideas. Global healthcare company Novo Nordisk, headquartered in Denmark, focuses on controlling obesity and diabetes through future-oriented treatments, while EAT, a global initiative, aims to bring food, health and sustainability together on joint platforms comprising science, business and decision-makers.

OBESITY AND DIABETES LEAD TO MANY DISEASES

Obesity prevention is an urgent global health issue. Today, obesity affects 650 million adults and 124 million children and adolescents. Additionally, diabetes is an important risk factor for the global disease burden leading to heart disease and cancer. The COVID-19 pandemic can cause more severe findings and complications in some people with disease related to diabetes or obesity. Dr. Gunhild A Stordalen, Founder and Chair of EAT, noting that an important way to contribute to preventing obesity and diabetes is to address systemic food challenges and create healthier and more sustainable food environments, stated: "What we eat today is harming both our health and our planet. We need new solutions and partnerships and a food system that supports healthy and sustainable nutrition to change behaviors." General Manager of Novo Nordisk Turkey Dr. Burak Cem said he believes the competition will encourage innovative solutions to prevent obesity and diabetes by creating healthy and sustainable food environments in many countries, including Turkey. Pointing out that obesity and diabetes are the most important threats waiting at the door after COVID-19, Dr. Burak Cem made the following assessment: "Novo Nordisk, with nearly a century of experience, is a healthcare company dedicated to diabetes treatment and public health. As a company managed by one of the world's largest foundations, we work with the mission of overcoming diabetes, one of the 21st century's greatest health challenges, and changing obesity through our biotechnological products, global collaborations and forward-looking treatments. During this period when we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of insulin, we are pleased to launch such a project aimed at facilitating access to healthy foods and drawing attention to proper nutrition."