Congratulations to two ECO2026 Prize Winners

Congratulations to two ECO2026 Prize Winners

EASO was pleased to recognise the research and related activities of early-career colleagues presenting at this year’s European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul. Supported by Lilly, two ECO2026 Prizes highlighted early-career efforts to communicate obesity research to a range of audiences and support work with strong potential to shape obesity-related policy or practice.

ECO2026 Prize for Advocacy, Impact & Innovation

The ECO2026 Prize for Advocacy, Impact & Innovation aimed to recognise early-career contributions to work with strong potential to inform policy, practice, advocacy, or other real-world improvements in obesity prevention, treatment, and care.

This prize was awarded to Nour Baratli, a dietitian and research trainee at the Luxembourg Institute of Health, for her early-career contribution to the abstract “Physical Health Issues Associated with Weight Bias and Stigma in Adults Living with Obesity: Preliminary Results”.

The research Nour shared at ECO reviewed evidence linking weight bias and stigma with adverse physical health outcomes, independent of BMI, as well as associations between weight stigma and reduced healthcare engagement. Nour’s application described the work’s focus on framing weight stigma as a modifiable social determinant of health, and outlined its relevance for improving obesity care pathways, informing evidence-based policy development, and encouraging more respectful communication around obesity in healthcare and public discourse.

A person with short, dark hair is smiling slightly, wearing a brown jacket and a collared shirt, against a plain light background.

Nour Baratli, winner of the ECO2026 Prize for Advocacy, Impact & Innovation

ECO2026 Prize for Public Engagement & Science Communication

The ECO2026 Prize for Public Engagement & Science Communication aimed to recognise early-career researchers communicating their obesity research clearly and accessibly with wider audiences.

Pablo Jiménez López, a PhD candidate at the University of Almería, Spain, was awarded this prize for his communication and engagement activities linked to his research on “Ingestion of Polystyrene Nanoplastics Promotes Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Fat Accumulation in Mice”.

Pablo made significant efforts to make complex research on nanoplastics, environmental health, obesity, and diabetes accessible to students and the wider public in Spain. Through activities including European Researchers’ Night, the University of Almería “Visit your University” programme, and the Science and Innovation Fair, Pablo used interactive workshops and demonstrations to raise awareness of microplastics exposure in everyday life and encourage broader discussion of its possible health implications.

A man in a white lab coat stands smiling in front of laboratory equipment with his arms folded.

Pablo Jiménez López, winner of the ECO2026 Public Engagement & Science Communication

Each winner was presented with their prize at the ECO2026 closing ceremony and was nominated for support from the EASO Development Fund to advance their professional development, research activities, or attendance at ECO2027. EASO warmly congratulates Nour and Pablo on their contributions, and thanks all early-career researchers who submitted applications for this year’s prizes.

Two people standing side by side, both smiling at the camera. The person on the left has glasses and a beard; the person on the right has short hair. Both wear light-coloured shirts.

The ECO2026 Prizes were presented with the unconditional support of Lilly. Eli Lilly and Company provided funding for the prizes but had no role in the prize selection process or future direction of the winners’ work.

Red cursive text logo displaying the word "Lilly" on a white background.