European Parliamentary Event Highlights Importance of Addressing Childhood and Adolescent Obesity

European Parliamentary Event Highlights Importance of Addressing Childhood and Adolescent Obesity

The European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) welcomed an important discussion on childhood and adolescent obesity at the European Parliament on 3 November, hosted by MEPs for Action on Obesity.

The event was particularly timely, following on from the publication last month of new World Health Organization (WHO) guidance on the management of obesity in children and adolescents, reinforcing the importance of early diagnosis, evidence-based care and coordinated action across health systems.

Obesity is a chronic, relapsing disease with a life-course trajectory, frequently beginning in childhood or adolescence and continuing into adulthood. EASO’s forthcoming Childhood and Adolescent Obesity Framework recognises the distinct developmental, clinical and psychosocial needs of children and adolescents, supporting person-centred assessment and long-term obesity management that extends beyond BMI alone.

Five speakers sit at a panel table during an MEPs for Action on Obesity meeting, with close-ups of two speakers displayed on a screen in the foreground. Two women sit at a conference table with nameplates in front of a digital screen titled “Addressing childhood obesity in Europe.”

The event brought together European policymakers, scientific experts and representatives of people living with lived experience, including young people and family members. Contributions from WHO Europe and UNICEF Europe highlighted the importance of coordinated approaches to improving the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents.

EASO President Professor Volkan Yumuk and President-Elect Dr Jennifer Baker contributed to the programme, alongside an expert perspective on the forthcoming EASO framework and important lived experience perspectives shared by the European Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ECPO).

A man and a woman sitting side by side at a conference table, the man wearing a name badge. Four people sit at a conference table with name cards before a banner reading “MEPs for Action on Obesity,” while a monitor in the foreground displays a live feed of the meeting.

Discussions also addressed the Zagreb Declaration and opportunities for stronger European cooperation on childhood and adolescent obesity.

EASO welcomes this important event at the European Parliament, connecting scientific evidence, clinical practice and public health priorities to support earlier intervention, equitable access to care and continuity of obesity management from childhood and adolescence into adult life.