On World Heart Day 2026, EASO joins the cardiovascular and wider health community in calling for earlier action to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) and improve health across Europe. CVD remains the leading cause of death in the EU, accounting for around 1.7 million deaths each year. Its impact extends far beyond healthcare: CVD is estimated to cost the EU €282 billion annually, including €48 billion in productivity losses, alongside the enormous human cost experienced by people, families and communities.
This year, World Heart Day coincides with the first EU Screening Week. The European Commission’s Know Your Numbers campaign encourages people to understand key health indicators, including blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, and obesity screening measures to engage with health professionals about appropriate health checks.
Effective cardiometabolic health checks must also recognise obesity as a chronic, relapsing disease and a major driver of cardiovascular and metabolic ill health. Identifying obesity and its associated health risks through evidence-based screening and diagnosis – alongside blood pressure, lipids and glycaemic measures – provides an important opportunity for earlier intervention and appropriate, person-centred management.
Obesity is at the centre of interconnected cardiometabolic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and must be recognised and addressed as such. Europe needs integrated approaches that recognise these biological and clinical connections and ensure that people living with obesity have access to appropriate diagnosis, management and long-term care. This World Heart Day, EASO supports the call to know your numbers – and to look beyond the numbers – recognising obesity and addressing it as an essential part of improving cardiovascular health across Europe. Learn more:
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