A joint initiative between the University of Sydney, Centre for Health Governance, Law & Ethics, and the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Health Law & Ethics, the conference will analyse Australian and international views on the obesity epidemic.

The keynote speakers include Professor Boyd Swinburn, Professor Robyn Martin and Associate Professor James Hodge.

The problem of obesity affects populations around the globe. The conference presents expert perspectives from Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States on how changes to the law could form part of a public health response to obesity.

Issues to be addressed include whether the law can achieve any good in relation to obesity; if a conceptual legal framework might help with obesity prevention; and what the role of the law is in regard to legal policy interventions and market-driven responses.

The conference will be broken up into three sessions, each with a keynote and supporting speaker. Questions and discussions will be encouraged.

Swinburn is chair in Population Health, School of Exercise & Nutrition Science at Deakin University. Martin is professor of public health law, Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care, University of Hertfordshire and visiting professor of public health law, Chinese University of Hong Kong. Fellow speaker Hodge is from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University.