"HEALTHY DIET FOR CHILDREN" INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends of our University, 

we would like to invite you to take part in the International Scientific Conference entitled "Healthy Diet for Children" organised by Jan Dlugosz University together with the Interdisciplinary Scientific and Research Centre of JDU. The event is organised as part of the implementation of tasks specified in the schedule of the "European Universities" project, which brings together 9 Partner Universities in the COLOURS alliance: Paderborn University (Germany) - Alliance leader, Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa (Poland), Josip Jurai Strossmayer University in Osijek (Croatia), Le Mans University (France), Kristianstad University (Sweden), University of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain), University of Ferrara (Italy), University St. Kliment Ohridski - Bitola (North Macedonia) and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (Latvia).

The event will take place on November 19 and 20, 2024 at Asten Group, Bór 77/81 in Częstochowa. 

The aim of the Conference is a multifaceted analysis of the challenges and problems faced by children and adolescents in the field of following a balanced diet, which plays an important role in the period of growth and development of the body, affecting not only well-being, health, cognitive functions, academic performance, but also helps to protect the body from many serious health consequences in the later stages of life. Proper eating habits, which are most often formed at a young age, are important in this regard. The event will discuss various aspects of healthy eating, social systems and practices that shape the perception of such children and adolescents in the environment, defining the adverse situation experienced by people on a diet. 

Therefore, in the opinion of the Organisers, the raised issue becomes a separate and dynamic field of activities at the national level, but also at the international and European level. Above all, however, it becomes a platform for interdisciplinary reflection on changes in the area of social approach to people who follow a diet. In such a case, it should be remembered that the need to follow a healthy diet through balanced nutrition may result from various genetic diseases, in which there is an abnormal reaction of the immune system under the influence of eating a specific product, as well as the occurrence of allergic reactions or hypersensitivity to the products consumed for the body. 

Unfortunately, lack of understanding from the environment, lack of acceptance from peers, can result in discrimination, exclusion and marginalization of children and adolescents on a diet, and even their families.  

Bearing in mind that often non-compliance with the basic principles of nutrition can disturb the functioning of hunger and satiety centres, cause fluctuations in glucose and insulin in the blood and, consequently, promote the development of obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, the aim of the event is also to promote healthy eating, as well as not to underestimate disease symptoms in this area. 

We hope that the initiated cooperation with 8 European universities, as part of the EU programme entitled European Universities, as well as representatives of various communities dealing with the issue of healthy eating, will create a unique space for the exchange of views and will become a contribution to reflection and further debate on this topic. On the other hand, however, it will contribute to the formulation of proposals for changes in the area of mechanisms aimed at "disseminating and taming" the values of mindful eating. In addition, we believe that the formulation of de lege ferenda conclusions will contribute to the introduction of such systemic changes that will allow for the proclamation of equal treatment and the abolition of discrimination against children with serious exclusions in their diet in everyday life. Therefore, it is important to introduce such legal regulations, both on the basis of national and EU law, that will affect the problem of ignorance and lack of awareness of both producers and consumers. It is important to emphasise that the EU complements national health policies by supporting local authorities in EU countries in achieving common goals, pooling resources and tackling common challenges, such as responsible labelling of foodstuffs, for vulnerable consumer groups, such as infants and young children, people with special medical conditions and those on energy-restricted diets for weight control,  as well as elimination diets.

CoLab agenda