Earlier this month, the informal interest group MEPs for Action on Obesity, hosted a high-level event at the European Parliament marking World Obesity Day 2026, focused on the theme “Addressing Obesity as a Gateway Disease: Why Europe must act now.” Hosted by MEP Romana Jerković, the meeting convened policymakers, clinicians, researchers, leading non communicable disease organisations and patient representatives to underline the urgent need to place obesity at the centre of the European non-communicable disease (NCD) agenda.
With contributions from EU leadership, including Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, alongside key partners such as ECPO, WHO Europe, OECD and leading European medical societies, discussions highlighted the central role of obesity in driving multiple NCDs and the importance of coordinated, evidence-based approaches across prevention, diagnosis and long-term obesity management.
Building on these discussions, the actions which took place in parliament and the report development, which was supported by EASO as the leading medical and scientific society in the field—captures key insights and sets out a clear call for stronger, coherent, EU-level action to address obesity and improve population health.
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