The role of dairy and nutrition in children’s, adolescents and ageing population’s diets will be the focus of the annual IDF Nutrition and Health Symposium 2022. The free event for health professionals takes place online on May 12 from 11:00 to 16:00 CEST. The symposium, which is holding its second edition after a very successful inaugural meeting in 2021, will present the latest dairy and nutrition research and practice from across the globe. The webinar will discuss the importance of dairy for two important life stages, namely for pregnancy, children and adolescents, and for healthy ageing.
Said Erica Hocking, chair of the Nutrition and Health Symposium Organising Committee, and deputy-chair of IDF Nutrition and Health Standing Committee: “Dairy products provide high-quality protein, calcium, B vitamins, iodine, and many other nutrients which are essential for growth and development in children as well as supporting ageing muscles and bones. We hope this event will attract many nutritionists, dietitians, and health professionals from around the world to hear about the important role milk and dairy products play in the diet at all ages and stages of life.”
Public health institutions around the world highlight the importance of investing in health and nutrition during pregnancy and the first 1000 days of life to help children meet their full potential for growth and development and academic performance. Moreover, recent research suggests a need to continue promoting healthy growth and development beyond the age of 2 and focus on the first 8000 days to set them up for healthy adulthood. Also, with an increasingly ageing population, it is essential to consider the science that can help develop affordable and quality health services focus on older adults to promote independence and maintain physical, mental and cognitive health.
Accordingly, the symposium will be divided into two sessions for each of these age groups. ‘Maternal diets and child health: the benefits of dairy consumption’ by Professor Ian Givens from the University of Reading, United Kingdom, and ‘The place of dairy in dietary guidelines for young children’ by professor Lisanne M. du Plessis from Stellenbosch University, South Africa are two of the presentations that will take place during the first session. ‘Dairy intake to reduce sarcopenia risk’ by Professor Satoshi Fujita, from Ritsumeikan University, Japan, and ‘Dairy consumption and ageing bones’ by Dr Sandra Iuliano from the University of Melbourne, Australia are some of the presentations of the second session.
Attending the event is free, and details on how to reserve your place along with full details of the programme can be found on the IDF website at https://fil-idf.org/idf_events/idf-nutrition-symposium-2/
