Obesity prevalence rates have almost tripled in Europe since 1980 with no sign of them abating. The main push for policy interventions at EU level has remained primary prevention of obesity with an emphasis on legislating around food policies, physical activity and nutrition.
With the European Commission’s categorisation of obesity as a chronic relapsing disease, its commitment to prioritising obesity as a non-communicable disease and the aim to build more resilient health systems across the European Union, now is the time to ensure that policy interventions go beyond primary prevention and equip governments and health systems to put in place the infrastructure needed to provide long-term management of obesity along the life course.
Obesity is a chronic relapsing and life-long disease which needs to be approached in the same way as other chronic diseases. In order to achieve the best possible outcomes for people living with pre-obesity and obesity we must work together to look past primary prevention, and instead consider the knock-on effects that good management and treatment could have for those currently living with obesity and prevention of complications.
See our Obesity: The Hard Facts Infographic for statistics and further information.
At EASO we work to inform and support EU institutions in their efforts to strengthen EU health systems by ensuring obesity is prioritised and addressed as a chronic disease across EU health policies and initiatives.
To find out more, read our 2019-2022 policy strategy.
