The past two years have put a spotlight on the health inequalities faced by people living with obesity and these inequalities have emphasised the need for more robust national obesity strategies and guidelines which support political and clinical decision-making on obesity and address current gaps.
Within this context and as part of ObesityWeek 2021, our panel of experts discussed current and upcoming obesity strategies and guidelines, reviewing what is currently working well and where efforts could and should be optimised.
Prof John Wilding and Carlos Oliveira shared their experiences setting up multidisciplinary centres for obesity in Liverpool and Portugal.
The second in OPEN’s best practice series, this session’s objective was to teach effective ways to advocate for the establishment of multidisciplinary obesity centres and how to ensure access to transdisciplinary care for people with obesity.
Dr Robert Kushner presented a US-based case study on embedding obesity in learning curricula as part of the OPEN’s Best Practice Webinar series.
The session’s objective was to identify ways in which obesity can be integrated in learning curricula across obesity-related professions to support more effective and informed care for people with obesity.
In connection with the European Congress on Obesity 2021, our panel reviewed developments in Europe and looked at what is working well in current strategies and initiatives, what is missing, and provided further insight and guidance on what is needed to ensure government strategies incorporate a whole-systems approach to obesity.
In one intense week, the European Congress on Obesity and the Canadian Obesity Summit are setting the bar high for translating research and guidelines into policies and action. A year ago, new Canadian guidelines emerged. The driving concept was simple – health first, before weight. Then in March, the European Commission redefined obesity. It’s a chronic disease and a gateway to other diseases. Again, it is all about health. Around the world, it is impossible to ignore because it is driving an epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Speakers discuss the latest developments in countries leading the charge on disease recognition for obesity, delving into whether this achievement makes a difference to the wider landscape of obesity policy, drawing on insights from the German Obesity Alliance and OPEN Italy. Learnings are also shared from diabetes experts in Belgium to understand similarities and challenges faced in pushing for change in awareness, care and treatment.
6 July 2020: Obesity Canada released their much anticipated Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines, providing evidence-based and experience-based, patient-centred framework for healthcare professionals, patients and policy makers. They represent the first comprehensive update in Canadian obesity guidelines since 2007, and perhaps the most extensive review of published evidence yet conducted in obesity worldwide.
A special Parliament Magazine supplement calling upon EU policymakers to take a fresh look at helping people with obesity.
Hear from international experts on key issues in obesity, insights on how to effectively address these issues through
grassroot efforts, advocacy, lobbying and the effective use of language and communications.
