On July 25, 2024, a round table meeting was held at the NAS of Belarus on the Childhood Obesity Pandemic: Causes, Consequences and Solutions. The meeting was attended by specialists from specialized organizations of the NAS of Belarus and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus. Alexander Kilchevsky, Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the NAS of Belarus, and Vasily Bogdan, Academician-Secretary of the Department of Medical Sciences, made welcoming speeches.

"The problem of childhood obesity is very serious and global in nature. According to statistics, it affects about 40 million children in the world. And almost every fifth child in our country also has these problems," Alexander Vladimirovich said. According to him, it is necessary to combat this by preventing obesity, controlling the child's diet and leading an active lifestyle.

During the round table, Deputy Academician-Secretary of the Department of Medical Sciences of the NAS of Belarus Tatyana Gnedko told how pregnant women and those who are preparing for pregnancy can prevent the appearance of obesity in an unborn child. According to her, adherence to the principles of a healthy diet and physical activity during and before pregnancy are important preventive factors of obesity. These factors also include the support and promotion of healthy nutrition at an early age of the child and the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life, because breast milk is a natural biological product that is enriched with all the substances necessary for the formation and maturation of the child's body.

The participants of the meeting discussed the issues of perinatal risk factors and the influence of family nutrition on the development of obesity in children. Scientists have considered new methods for assessing the likelihood of developing obesity based on molecular genetic testing, innovative approaches to creating confectionery products for baby food, new meat and dairy products with reduced calories.