European Obesity Day

European Obesity Day received the backing of EU Health Commissioner John Dalli at its launch in Strasbourg on May 19.

National Obesity Forum chair Prof David Haslam welcomed Mr Dalli (pictured right), who said the Commission's health initiatives emphasised determinants affecting a number of diseases, with a particular concern for prevention. He added there was a need to start the approach to healthy living in the kindergarten to support the prevention of obesity-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer, and offered an assurance of his support for the EOD initiative.

Addressing the launch meeting convened by Romanian MEP Dr Christian Busoi with Members of the European Parliament and supporters, Prof Haslam said that as a GP and obesity specialist he saw people whose lives had been destroyed by the problems that accompany obesity. "We are here to prioritise the care of our patients alongside the prevention of obesity," he added.

Dr Gema Fruehbeck, president-elect of the European Association for the Study of Obesity, said every patient with a chronic disease had the right to be treated and asked why this wasn't being done with obesity. "We need to change our approach to obesity treatment. It has been shown that even modest weight loss of 5-10 percent is effective in reducing co-morbidity and mortality," she added.

The movement to establish European Obesity Day was co-founded by Prof Haslam and Jean-Paul Allonsius, president of BOLD, a patient group in Belgium. Mr Allonsius, who shed 45 kg in his personal battle with obesity-induced health problems, said it was important for people to understand that obesity is a disease but that a small reduction in weight could still have big benefits for health.

Mr John Chave, secretary-general of the European pharmacists group, PGEU, said that pharmacists had a responsible role to play and were supporting European Obesity Day by providing information and screening services to people who wished to lose weight.

The first official day will be marked on Saturday May 22 with events in many parts of Europe. For more details see: http://www.obesityeurope.eu.  

In conjunction with European Obesity Day, the National Obesity Forum is also hosting the European Obesity Forum, which will provide for an exchange of experience and best practice amongst front-line health professionals and other stakeholders across Europe: http://www.obesityforum.eu.