On the occasion of World Obesity Day (March 4th), members of the European Parliament, policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, experts from across the non-communicable disease (NCD) community and patient representatives gathered at the event “Addressing Obesity as a Gateway Disease: Why Europe Must Act Now,” hosted by the MEPs for Action and Obesity. The discussion highlighted the urgent need to address stigma and inequalities experienced by people living with obesity, while also emphasising the strong links between obesity and other chronic diseases.   

The rising prevalence of obesity is placing an increasing burden not only on individuals, but also on society as a whole, including healthcare, social and environmental systems, calling for sustained and coordinated action at both EU and national levels. The BETTER4U project was presented by the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) as one of the key EU projects advancing obesity research and supporting the translation of scientific evidence into policy. Strengthening both prevention and treatment strategies is essential to improving public health and reducing the burden of NCDs, which further underlines the need for policies that ensure evidence-based and equitable access to effective care.