COPENHAGEN, Sept. 15  -- Representatives from health authorities in European countries gathered here on Monday to discuss key public health matters as a four-day World Health Organization (WHO) regional annual conference opened here.

More than 350 public health decision-makers from 53 members, including over 20 health ministers, will discuss a variety of topics such as vaccination, child and adolescent health, preventing child maltreatment and food and nutrition.

The WHO Regional Committee for Europe will review the achievements of the WHO European policy framework Health 2020, which was launched in 2012, and discuss how the region is tackling inequities in health in a whole-government and whole-society approach.

Meanwhile, the Committee will also talk about a new five-year food and nutrition action plan, which will address the issue of removing trans fat from the food supply and reducing trans fat consumption among the population.

"This is one of the most straightforward public health interventions for reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and some cancers, and improving diet," said WHO Regional Director for Europe Zsuzsanna Jakab at the opening session.

According to Jakab, more than 50 percent of adults in WHO European countries are overweight or obese, and in some of these countries the rate is as high as nearly 70 percent.

Monday's opening session was also attended by WHO Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan, and Denmark's Crown Princess Mary, who is the patron of WHO Regional Office for Europe.