Thank you for participating in #ECO2024
Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of the entire EASO team, I want to express our gratitude and thanks for your participation in and contributions to the 2024 European Congress on Obesity in Venice. This year ECO saw a record 3000 delegates join us from 103 countries. We owe the success of the European Congress on Obesity to you.
Thank you to our faculty and speakers, our sponsors and supporters, our fantastic local hosts, organising teams and congress managers, our early career network and our colleagues across the European patient community. Your knowledge, experience, and passion for understanding obesity and improving obesity care have significantly impacted our work. The community benefited from the exceptional scientific program and engaging teaching workshops in the collaborative and welcoming environment that greeted us in Venice.
We would like to extend a special thank you to our gracious Italian hosts Società Italiana ‘Obesità (SIO Italia), and patient organisations ECPO, La Mattina Dopo and Amici Obesi whose work was instrumental in creating a truly memorable congress.
As I undertake my role as president of EASO, I want to reaffirm our focus in the coming years on capacity building across the society, including within our national membership associations and Collaborating Centers for Obesity Management, across our Early Career Network, and through collaboration and engagement with sister societies and related disease areas across the NCD community.
Thinking ahead, initial preparations for the 2025 European Congress on Obesity in Malaga Spain are already underway. Beyond stunning beaches and sunshine, Malaga boasts a walkable city center replete with historical and cultural sites, excellent conference facilities and a vibrant scientific and medical community. We look forward to welcoming you next May!
With best wishes,
Volkan
Volkan Yumuk, MD
President, EASO
APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE 2024 EASO MASTERCLASS IN OBESITY
An Interdisciplinary Approach to Obesity Prevention and Management
Application Deadline: 28th June 2024
➡️ Monday 16th – Wednesday 18th September 2024 – Budapest, Hungary
The Masterclass in Obesity is a comprehensive training designed for European health professionals working in obesity prevention and management.
Teaching at the Masterclass will be delivered via lectures, group discussions and workshops. EASO will offer up to 50 places for this prestigious course. There is no registration fee and EASO will provide hotel accommodation and meals for successful applicants. Successful candidates will need to cover their own travel to Budapest.
Learn more and apply here for EASO Masterclass
EASO ANNOUNCES PROFESSOR VOLKAN YUMUK AS NEW PRESIDENT
On behalf of the European Association for the Study of Obesity Trustees and General Council, we are pleased to announce that Professor Volkan Yumuk, a clinical endocrinologist who lives and practices in Istanbul, has taken up the role of President.
Dr. Jennifer L. Baker is the Head of Research in Lifecourse Epidemiology at the Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital- Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg in Denmark. She becomes president-elect.
VENICE DECLARATION
The conclusion of ECO2024 saw the launch of an important declaration developed by the co-hosts of the congress, Professor Luca Busetto and Professor Roberto Vettor.
It’s time to change the global obesity narrative: manage obesity as a chronic disease and address disparities for sustainable, equitable health systems.
ECO2024 – MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
- DAY 1 – Media Highlights
- DAY 2 – Media Highlights
- DAY 3 – Media Highlights
- DAY 4 – Media Highlights
Study reveals links between absenteeism from work and obesity
Individuals living with overweight or obesity are more likely to be absent from work due to ill health than those with normal weight, Europe-wide study finds.
The anti-inflammatory power of aerobic exercise in adults with obesity
Exercise is a natural way to boost the body’s immune system responses to reduce inflammation.
Findings underscore the benefits of a year of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity as per recommended guidelines in reducing the low-grade inflammation of obesity after weight loss.
Study supports lower BMI threshold for obesity in the over 40s
The internationally recognised body-mass index (BMI) cut-off point for obesity may not be appropriate for middle-aged and older men and women (aged 40-80 years), according to research being presented at this year’s European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy (12-15 May).
Semaglutide: 4-years weight loss and cardiovascular benefits
Semaglutide can produce clinically meaningful weight loss and reduce waist size for at least 4 years in adults with overweight or obesity who don’t have diabetes, and delivers cardiovascular benefits irrespective of weight loss.
UK survey finds “disgust factor” needs to be overcome if eating insects is to become truly mainstream
UK survey examines consumer attitudes towards and willingness to consume insect-based foods. Only 13% of respondents said they would be willing to regularly consume insects, with younger respondents less willing to give insects a try, as were those with higher sensitivity to food disgust.
Could WhatsApp profile pictures help obesity doctors spot patients with body dysmorphia?
Italian study finds evidence of body dysmorphia in profile pictures of people living with obesity.
Asking adults living with obesity about their childhood weight could help determine mortality risk
UK Biobank study shows that all-cause mortality risk is highest for those who were slim/underweight in childhood before living with obesity as adults.
Is coming off semaglutide slowly the key to preventing weight regain?
New research being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy (12-15 May) has explored the benefits of giving personalised doses of semaglutide to patients taking part in a weight loss programme and tapering them off the medication when they reach their target weight.
Do sex differences in how adipose tissue responds to insulin explain why type 2 diabetes is more common in men?
New research being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy (12-15 May), and published in the International Journal of Obesity, could help explain why type 2 diabetes is more common in men than in women.
Poor muscle health is common in people living with obesity – and increases the risk of an early death, Swedish study of people in UK finds
New research being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy (12-15 May) has found that poor muscle health is associated with a higher risk of an early death in people living with obesity.
Individuals with large fat cells tend to lose weight over time, while those with small fat cells gain weight, Swedish study finds
New research being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy (12-15 May) suggests that it is possible to predict if someone is going to gain weight based on their size of their fat cells.
Junk food marketing on videogame live-streaming platforms like Twitch increases purchases and consumption among teens
Food and drink advertisements on videogame livestreaming platforms (VGLSPs) like Twitch are associated with more positive attitudes towards, and purchases and intake of, unhealthy foods that are high in fat, salt and/or sugar (HFSS) like energy drinks among adolescents aged 18 or younger, according to new research being presented at this year’s European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy (12-15 May).
EASO – NOVO NORDISK FOUNDATION 2024 OBESITY PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE
Professor Antje Körner, winner of the Obesity Prize for Excellence
Watch here as she tells about how her work endeavours to solve the mysteries of childhood obesity and her mission to find those children most at risk of developing obesity.
EASO – NOVO NORDISK FOUNDATION 2024 NEW INVESTIGATOR AWARDEES
Four European researchers have been named New Investigator Awardees of the EASO – Novo Nordisk Foundation initiative recognising their work in Basic Science, Clinical Research, Public Health and Childhood Obesity.
Andrew Agbaje – Award for Childhood Obesity
Birgitta van der Kolk – Award for Basic Science
Borja Martinez Tellez – Award for Clinical Research
Laura Gray – Award for Public Health
EASO EARLY CAREER NETWORK BEST THESIS AWARD
Congratulations to Rebecca Evans for winning the EASO Early Career Network Best Thesis Award for 2024
Rebecca’s principal research interests lie in understanding the impacts of the food environment on eating behaviour.
Simon Birk Kjær Jensen
Runner-up of the Best Thesis Award 2024
Kath Williamson
Runner-up of the Best Thesis Award 2024
UPCOMING EVENTS
29th WONCA Europe Conference
25-28 Sept. 2024 in Dublin, Ireland
Abstract submission is now open. The Scientific Committee encourages submissions for consideration in the WONCA programme.
Deadline for abstract submission is 30 March
EndoBridge 2024
17-20 Oct 2024 in Antalya, Turkiye
Clinical Case Submission Deadline:
23 Aug 2024
European Public Health Conference
12-15 Nov 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal
The theme of the 2024 EPH conference is Sailing the waves of European public health: Exploring a sea of innovation.
OBESITY FACTS JOURNAL
Read the latest edition of OBESITY FACTS Journal
Obesity Facts 2024, Vol. 17, Suppl. 1
31st European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2024)
32ND EUROPEAN CONGRESS ON OBESITY
Save the Date
The 32nd European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025) will take place 11-14 May 2025 in Malaga, Spain – save the dates!
We look forward to hosting you in Malaga!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
EU PROJECTS
EASO plays a pivotal role as a dissemination partner and in shaping the strategic direction and policy development within various EU- funded research projects, including Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe initiatives.
