Thanks again to our faculty, organisers, sponsors, National Associations, COMs friends, and colleagues from around the globe. 3000+ delegates joined us during 4 days for over 250 virtual presentations in 77 congress sessions at #ECOICO2020. Remember, all sessions are available to review until early December on the congress platform.
If you haven’t yet registered but want to view the sessions, you can register today for full access at our low digital congress rates.
Apply Now! Obesity Masterclass Series
The 2020 Masterclass will be delivered in two streams, obesity management in adults, and obesity management in children, and will provide valuable opportunities to network and collaborate with faculty and fellow attendees.
The 2020 Masterclass will be delivered in two streams, obesity management in adults, and obesity management in children, and will provide valuable opportunities to network and collaborate with faculty and fellow attendees.
Read more
2020 EASO New Investigators United Winter School
Learn more about the EASO training course for PhD students, early career clinicians, researchers, public health professionals and scientists.
Join the New Investigators United Network and apply by 1 November 2020 to the 2020 Winter School 1-2 December.
EASO New Investigators Award Recipients
Established in 2005, the EASO New Investigators United Network (NIU) acts as an informal community for early career professionals to access training, to collaborate on projects and to share experiences and expertise. Training, education and mentoring opportunities may also be available to members of the network, by application/invitation.The NIU initiative combines an online community with an annual event at the ECO, where new investigators have an opportunity to meet, interact and share ideas with colleagues from around the world.
Clinical Research
Dr. Alice Bellica
Just finished a post as a research assistant at the faculty of Sports Science of the University Paris-Est Créteil, and will return to work at Sorbonne University in Paris.
Basic Science
Dr. Kristine Beaulieu
Research fellow and dietitian within the Apetite Control and Energy Balance Research (ACEB) group at the University of Leeds.
Public Health
Carmen Piernas
Nuffield Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Oxford
Child Obesity
Dr. Karen Matvienkio-Sikar
School of Public Health, University of College Cork, Ireland
EASO NEWS
The latest news and announcements, including selected highlights from #ECOICO2020, our National Associations and related obesity societies
Addressing Obesity Stigma and Weight Bias: a Socio-ecological Approach
The European and International Congress on Obesity hosted an excellent live session with several prominent speakers on weight bias and obesity stigma.
#ECOICO2020 Highlights in German
We are pleased to announce that ÖAG, The Austrian Obesity Association, will host a Webinar in German “Highlights from ECOICO 2020” on 14 October 2020 for Association members.
Low Carb Diets Often Influenced by Internet Information and do not Work for all
In a new study led by the University of Glasgow and published today in Nature Scientific Reports, researchers have provided further insights into the motivations for following low carb diets and the experiences of current and past dieters. The research was published and launched at ECOICO 2020 and can be found at EP-579.
Adopt and @obedis: Toward a Universal Description of Obesities in Clinical Trials
Martine Laville and colleagues from across the world joined in on an important Global Research Methodology workshop at ECOICO2020 to discuss building a universal description of obesities in clinical trials. Their work is ongoing.
Data Clearly Show the More Serious Trajectory of Covid-19 Disease in Obesity
**COVID-19 Special Session**
One of the opening sessions at this year’s online European and International Congress on Obesity focused on the clear relationship between obesity and severity of COVID-19 disease. The session was presented by François Pattou, Professor of Surgery at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lille, and head of the Department of General and Endocrine Surgery at Lille University Hospital, France.
POLICY
European obesity policy is a priority of EASO.
KOLs in our Public Health Task Force, Obesity Management Task Force, and Childhood Obesity Task Force issue position papers and guidance on key issues in policy that impact obesity. We look forward to hosting our Europe-wide high level policy conference in 2021.
EASO Stakeholder Statement on The European Commission Foresight Report and European Commission’s Acknowledgment of Obesity as a Chronic Disease
EASO welcomes the European Commission’s Strategic Foresight Report “Charting the course towards a more resilient Europe” and the related implementation process. We commend the Commission’s strengthening the mission-driven approach to addressing major societal and health challenges facing our Union.
EASO and World Obesity Federation Joint Statement to The World Health Organisation
EASO is pleased to join The World Obesity Federation in presenting a joint statement to the WHO Regional Committee for Europe 70th session on the state of health, including lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. The virtual session took place on 14– 15 September 2020.
Join EASO at the Virtual EU Health Summit
EASO is a partner in the EU Health Coalition and is delighted to be moderating a session on ‘Health Systems’ at the upcoming Coalition Summit.
We welcome your input at this session from the national perspective. It is time to build more sustainable, resilient and equitable healthcare systems across Europe. EASO believes implementing standardised data collection is an important step to in achieving outcomes-based and value-based healthcare.
Please join us for a live discussion on 26 October 2020.
View further details and registration
EASO EU Policy Statement
EASO is pleased to share our new EU Policy Position Statement on obesity in the context of COVID-19 and building more resilient health systems in the future.
EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY
EASO develops high quality education and training resources for clinicians and HCPs working in obesity treatment and care. Educational tools include courses, an open access eTraining platform in multiple languages, guidelines, slide decks, webcasts and standardised course content.
Time to Make a Change: 21 October 2020 #livingwithobesity
Language matters. Stigma can impact health. We have adopted person-first language use for some chronic diseases, but not for obesity. Join EASO and participate in this important work. Learn more, follow the European Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ECPO) Campaign #LivingWithObesity, attend the live webinar on October 21st and support the #PeopleFirst call to action.
Registration Open for Obesityweek® Interactive
Join EASO at ObesityWeek® Interactive. We are pleased to collaborate in hosting a joint session “Walking in Their Shoes: a Patient Perspective” on 2 November. The online meeting features broadcast sessions Nov. 2-6, 2020 at obesityweek.org, complete with live Q&A, and a wide range of pre-recorded programming and interactive elements.
COVID-19 RESOURCES
EASO has a key role in disseminating evidence-based information about the COVID-19 pandemic among our National Associations and members, clinicians, scientists, research professionals and ECPO patient communities.
The EASO medical and scientific community is intensively engaged in addressing the global COVID-19 pandemic. Our clinicians are working in the front line of care for patients living with obesity within emergency care systems, in coordination with other clinical colleagues across 36 countries. Our scientists are hard at work developing tools and frameworks contributing to psychological support for clinicians and patients, developing and implementing public health strategies, providing guidance and support for family assistance, including children and teens.
Our role in the pandemic is crucial in the dissemination of science-based information and providing common-sense, evidence-based updates, recommendations and guidance via our website and social media.
EASO Urges Obesity Patients to Continue Treatment
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a particularly difficult time for people living with obesity. Not only is there evidence that suggests people with obesity have an elevated risk of hospitalisation, serious illness and mortality, it has also been very challenging initiate, obtain or maintain treatment.
Supporting Weight Management Services During The COVID-19 Pandemic: Phase I Insights
EASO is pleased to share this important new rapid response study showIng how weight management services in England have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores which measures are required to facilitate needed changes in these services and in addition, provides a set of guiding principles for service users, service providers and commissioners.
RESEARCH
EASO facilitates and supports research development and dissemination via participation in research projects, by creating platforms for research presentations and by convening our Scientific Advisory Board to address key questions and develop recommendations.
Adopting a Future-Oriented Multi-Annual Financial Framework 2021 – 2027
The Coalition is composed of patient organisations, EU research-oriented medical societies, industry organisations, healthcare providers, regional and local health authorities and other relevant stakeholders. We believe it is time to invest in Europe as a true research and innovation hub.
NOHOW: Project Results
Now that the 5 year Horizon 2020 NoHoW project has concluded, what did we learn from this research into digital strategies for longer term weight maintenance?
Effect of Quarantine on Sleep Quality and Body Mass Index
We are pleased to share a paper published in the Journal of Translational Medicine. Author Giovanna Muscogiuri, MD, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Endocrinology Unit at the University Federico II, Naples Italy. We had a discussion about the new research.
Role for a TNF Superfamily Network in Human Obesity
It’s great to have a chance to speak with Dr Nitzan Maixne and Dr Assaf Rudich. Congratulations to both of you on your new publication Role for a TNF superfamily network in human obesity. Please give us a top-line summary of the paper which will help us better understand adipose tissue dysfunction.
EASO COMs
EASO has developed a network of accredited specialised obesity centres, where the quality and efficacy of the care offered to patients are of the highest standards. Under the EASO Collaborating Centres for Obesity Management (COM) scheme, centres will be accredited in accordance with accepted European guidelines.
Individual Certification in Obesity Management
The EASO Certification in Obesity Management recognises individuals who are national and European experts in obesity management.
EU PROJECTS
EASO acts as a dissemination and communications partner in a number of important EU funded Horizon 2020 research projects, often as WP leader.
What is the PROTEIN Project?
PROTEIN is a research initiative led by a consortium of European public- and private-sector organizations working to promote health and wellbeing. By bringing together experts from across Europe, PROTEIN will develop tools using the latest communications technologies and machine learning strategies to provide personalized nutrition and physical activity support to EU citizens.
Learn more about the PROTEIN Project
Sign up for the PROTEIN Project Newsletter
SWEET
SWEET, a European Commission Horizon 2020 funded project, is supported by a consortium of 29 pan-European research, consumer and industry partners, who will develop and review evidence on long term benefits and potential risks involved in switching over to sweeteners and sweetness enhancers (S&SEs) in the context of public health and safety, obesity, and sustainability.
Sign up for the SWEET Newsletter
Meet Lucie Geurts: ILSI Europe
Lucie is involved in work package 6 on ‘Stakeholder Engagement, Dissemination and Commercial Exploitation’. ILSI Europe is the SWEET Innovation Manager, which is a key role in the project aiming to identify and engage with relevant stakeholders.
Public health rationale for reducing sugar: Strategies and challenges
The continuing global increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity, particularly amongst children, attracts widespread public and political attention.
Obesity is a complex, with multi‐faceted determinants, and prevention strategies require consideration of dietary and lifestyle patterns alongside a range of environmental factors.
We are already hard at work on #ECO2021, 9 – 12 May 2021 in beautiful Malaga, Spain
EASO Members
EASO National Association members and stakeholders come from a wide range of professions and include clinicians, allied health professionals and scientists working in obesity research and education; opinion leaders, advocacy and patient groups led by ECPO; health focused organisations, national governments, policy makers, representatives of the European institutions and the wider international obesity community.