A key component of the initiative is its commitment to evaluation. Alongside driving interventions, each city will measure impact through a controlled, repeated cross-sectional study. Data will be collected on children's food and physical activity behaviours, health-related quality of life, and body mass index (BMI).

By taking this comprehensive approach, COPI strives to provide concrete insights into how urban environments can be transformed to better support children's health.

The initiative is supported by global partners Delivery Associates and The Behavioural Insights Team, as well as a wide range of local partners. At its core, COPI aims to foster a collaborative approach that drives meaningful change in children's daily environments by uniting city governments, academic experts, and non-profit organisations.

In 2022, more than 390 million children aged 5–19 years worldwide were affected by overweight, with 160 million living with obesity.¹ This troubling trend poses significant health risks, including early-onset type 2 diabetes and a higher likelihood of adult obesity. Children from lower socioeconomic communities tend to be particularly vulnerable to this health crisis.

COPI is a key component of Novo Nordisk's broader commitment to addressing obesity as a chronic disease and represents a vital step toward creating healthier, more resilient urban communities. As COPI rolls out globally, it will provide a blueprint for cities everywhere to combat childhood obesity and secure a healthier future for the next generation.

Read more here: https://www.citiesforbetterhealth.com/about/our-approach/childhood-obesity.html