Health Festival

Date: Friday, 5/23/2025

Time:  10:00 – 14:00

Venue: Indoor University Gym

Supporters

Health Festival

National Initiative Against Childhood Obesity – Standing as a Shield for Children

As part of the National Initiative Against Childhood Obesity by the Ministry of Health, the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), in collaboration with UNICEF, has undertaken and is coordinating the “National Network of Collaborating Public Health Stakeholders” Program. The aim is to address childhood obesity by distributing the “Food for Action” toolkits throughout 2025. This National Initiative is implemented by the Ministry of Health in cooperation with UNICEF, within the framework of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0,” with funding from the European Union – NextGenerationEU.

Supporting this effort, among other universities, is the Democritus University of Thrace, through the Departments of Physical Education and Sport Science (DPESS) and Medicine, which are responsible for disseminating the toolkits in the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace and the support of Hellenic Academy of Physical Education.

The objectives of this collaboration are:

1. To establish a strong alliance between the local and academic communities.

2. For the alliance or its members to act as local implementation partners for the “Food for Action” toolkits.

3. To disseminate these actions at the local level.

Objectives of the “FOOD FOR ACTION” Program and Toolkits:

• Promote a healthier and more active lifestyle for children and adolescents.

• Encourage the adoption of healthy habits, especially increased water consumption, regular breakfast, and healthy meals.

• Enhance physical activity while reducing sedentary behavior and screen time.

Team Composition – Democritus University of Thrace

DPESS

• Vasiliki Derri, Scientific Coordinator, Professor, DPESS, DUTH

• Eleni Douda, Professor, DPESS, DUTH

• Olga Kouli, Associate Professor, DPESS, DUTH

• Alexandra Avloniti, Associate Professor, DPESS, DUTH

• Georgia Yfantidou, Associate Professor, DPESS, DUTH

School of Medicine

• Evangelia Nena, Associate Professor, DUTH Medical School (Deputy Coordinator)

• Theodoros K. Konstantinidis, Professor, DUTH Medical School

• Aikaterini Alexiou-Chatzaki, Professor, DUTH Medical School

• Antonios Voutetakis, Professor, DUTH Medical School

• Christina Tsigkalou, Associate Professor, DUTH Medical School

• Dimitrios Kasimos, Associate Professor, DUTH Medical School

• Christos Kontogiorgis, Associate Professor, DUTH Medical School

• Maria Venetia Apostolopoulou, Laboratory Teaching Staff (EDIP), DUTH Medical School

Child Rights Centre

• Efthymia Papanastasiou, Laboratory Teaching Staff (EDIP), Department of Early Childhood Education, DUTH

Special Account for Research Funds (ELKE), DUTH

• Eugenia Kosmidou, Economist

School Activities (Supported by E.A.F.A.)

Facilities:

• Indoor University Gymnasium

• Football Field

• Outdoor Gym

• ETHNOA Park