Professor Colao, it’s great to meet with you and we look forward to hearing more about your recent Opera project. Please tell us about the project and how it was initially conceived.
The OPERA prevention project is part of the great event Campus 3S (Health, Sport and Solidarity) which has moved since 2010 from Naples to the largest Italian squares (www.campussalute.it for details). OPERA is also a strategic project of The UNESCO Chair on “Health Education and Sustainable Development” ( https://www.unescochairnapoli.it/ for details). This project offered an innovative path through which men and women living with obesity become more aware of this chronic disease and how to treat it.
People have different learning styles and I guess one way of making new information memorable and resonant is to enable people to participate in something of direct relevance to their experience. What was the response of people who participated in the Opera project?
People with obesity taking part to OPERA prevention project were very enthusiastic. They became aware about obesity-related complications and at the same time they developed a positive attitude towards embracing and undertaking a more healthy lifestyle, in particular healthy food and regular physical activity
Are there plans in place to replicate this project either in the same location or elsewhere?
Yes. The OPERA (Obesity, Programs of nutrition, Education, Research and Assessment of the best treatment) prevention project was held for the first time in Naples on October 11th-12 th and 13 th and as it was successful, we are planning to introduce it in the largest Italian and European squares.
Researchers and clinicians often learn something new or are able to refine their models based on a practical experience implementing a new project. What are the key take-away messages you and the team have gained from the project?
Once again, The OPERA project reminded us that treatment of obesity starts with comprehensive lifestyle management (ie, diet, physical activity, behavior modification). People living with obesity should be considered ” leading actors” in their own lives and we have a duty to provide them with all available tools to help them fight this disease.
Please share a brief biography (100 – 130 words) which references the project.
The OPERA (Obesity, Programs of nutrition, Education, Research and Assessment of the best treatment) prevention project was held in Naples on October 11th-12 th and 13 th, coordinated by Professor Annamaria Colao. It is part of the great event Campus 3S (Health, Sport and Solidarity) which has moved since 2010 from Naples to the largest Italian squares (www.campussalute.it for details) and it is also a strategic project of The UNESCO Chair on “Health Education and Sustainable Development” ( https://www.unescochairnapoli.it/ for details). The main objectve of this prevention project is to strengthen the prevention and treatment of obesity and ensure universal access to obesity health-care services, including for information and education, and the integration of obesity into national strategies and programmes.