ECPObesity

11/08/2026

What others say about us can eventually shape how we see ourselves.

For people living with obesity, weight stigma is not just an unpleasant experience. It can affect access to healthcare, relationships, education, employment and overall wellbeing.

Research by the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity found that 54% of adults living with obesity reported experiencing weight stigma in the workplace, while 64% reported experiencing weight bias from healthcare professionals.

And stigma can become internalized. When people repeatedly encounter stereotypes and negative assumptions about their weight, they may eventually begin to believe those messages themselves, leading to self-blame, shame, lower self-esteem, anxiety, social isolation and other psychological and behavioural consequences.

This is why the way we talk about obesity matters.

💚 Words matter.
💚 Healthcare without judgment matters.
💚 Support matters.
💚 Self-compassion matters.

Obesity is a chronic disease. People living with it should have access to evidence-based care and support without shame, discrimination or judgment.

Let's challenge weight stigma, both externalized and internalized, and create environments where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

28/07/2026

On 13 June 2026, La Mattina Dopo Aps - La Cura dell'obesità brought together more than 130 participants in Bologna for its annual "I Live My Obesity" event, creating an inspiring space for education, collaboration, and patient advocacy.

The event welcomed people living with obesity, healthcare professionals, patient advocates, institutional representatives, industry partners, and volunteers to explore the importance of person-centred obesity care. Discussions highlighted multidisciplinary obesity management, the value of lived experience, and the need to strengthen collaboration between patients and healthcare professionals.

The programme also showcased advocacy initiatives focused on education, prevention, reducing weight stigma, and improving access to quality obesity care across Italy.

At ECPO, we are proud to see members of our Patient Council supporting initiatives that place lived experience at the heart of obesity care. Events like "I Live My Obesity" demonstrate the power of patient advocacy in challenging stigma, improving understanding, and helping to shape more compassionate and equitable healthcare.

23/07/2026

Last week, ECPObesity had the honour of attending the International Congress on Obesity (ICO 2026) in Mexico City, organised by the World Obesity Federation.

We are grateful to the World Obesity Federation for inviting ECPO and our President, Diana Castillo, and to EASOobesity for generously sharing their exhibition stand, allowing us to connect with people from around the world and showcase our work.

One of the highlights was participating in the Obesity Lived Experience Global Summit 2026, where people living with obesity, healthcare professionals, researchers, and advocates came together to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and discuss how we can improve obesity care worldwide.

Despite different healthcare systems and national priorities, one challenge was universal: stigma. It continues to delay diagnosis, limit access to care, and prevent people from receiving the support they deserve.

The enthusiasm for our People First campaign reminded us that change is happening. More and more people recognise that we must put people before disease and beyond stigma.

We return home with new ideas, stronger partnerships, and even greater determination to continue advocating for the rights of people living with obesity.

Because every person deserves respect, appropriate care, long-term support, and a life free from stigma.

Nothing about us, without us.

21/07/2026

The first oral GLP-1 medicine for obesity management has been approved in the European Union.

For people living with obesity, this is more than a regulatory milestone - it means another evidence-based treatment option. While weekly injections remain the preferred choice for many, others may find that a once-daily tablet better fits their lifestyle and personal preferences.

Research suggests that many people living with obesity value having oral treatment options, reinforcing an important principle: choice matters.

Obesity is a complex, chronic, relapsing disease, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to care. Medicines are intended to be used alongside healthy nutrition, physical activity and ongoing medical support as part of comprehensive obesity management.

At ECPO, we welcome progress that expands obesity management choices while continuing to advocate for equitable access to evidence-based, person-centred obesity care across Europe.

14/07/2026

Every conversation about obesity care should include the voices of people living with obesity.

ECPO was delighted to be represented by Sólveig Sigurðardóttir at the symposium "Culinary Medicine in Obesity Management: Reducing Weight Bias, Promoting Health" in Barcelona.

The event highlighted the importance of compassionate, person-centred obesity care and recognised lived experience as an essential source of knowledge alongside clinical expertise and scientific evidence.

Discussions covered reducing weight stigma, multidisciplinary care, public health, the Mediterranean diet, nutrition after bariatric surgery, and practical dietary approaches during obesity management treatment.

We thank Fundació Alícia, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Bias 180 and everyone involved for creating an environment where people living with obesity participated as true partners in the conversation.

Together, we can build more equitable, evidence-based and compassionate obesity care across Europe.

12/07/2026

ECPObesity is proud to have contributed to a new international consensus statement, developed together with EASO and EFAD, on the nutritional, functional and psychological considerations for adults using incretin-based therapies, including GLP-1 receptor agonists.

The paper includes contributions from our own Vicki Mooney, Susie Birney and Ken Clare, ensuring that the lived experience of people living with obesity helped shape the recommendations alongside clinical and scientific expertise.

For people living with obesity, the message is clear: obesity management medications are powerful tools, but they are not a standalone solution.

To achieve the best outcomes, treatment should include personalised nutrition support from registered dietitians, strategies to preserve muscle mass and physical function, psychological support throughout the treatment journey, regular monitoring and long-term follow-up as part of multidisciplinary, person-centred care.

The consensus also highlights a critical issue: too many people living with obesity still face barriers to accessing both evidence-based medications and the comprehensive care they need. Reducing inequalities and tackling obesity stigma must remain a priority.

At ECPO, we welcome this consensus because it reflects what people living with obesity have long advocated: access to medication should go hand in hand with access to respectful, comprehensive, person-centred care. Success is not measured only by weight loss, it is about improving health, physical function and quality of life.

📖 Read the full paper and download the accompanying infographics:
https://easo.org/nutritional-functional-and-psychological-considerations-for-obesity-management-medications-in-adults-an-easo-efad-and-ecpo-consensus-statement/

EASO is pleased to share a new consensus statement on the use of incretin-based therapies (IBTs) Nutritional, Functional and Psychological Considerations for Obesity Management Medications in Adults – An EASO, EFAD and ECPO Consensus Statement This publication, developed in conjunction with The Eu...

07/07/2026

The US Medicare system has taken an important step by introducing temporary access to GLP-1 medications for eligible people living with obesity (with a $50 monthly co-payment).

Recognising obesity as a chronic disease that deserves evidence-based medical treatment is a significant milestone and helps challenge the stigma that people living with obesity continue to face.

But there are important lessons for Europe.

🔹 Obesity is a chronic, relapsing disease. Temporary reimbursement is not enough, people need long-term, sustainable access to treatment and care.

🔹 The US programme recognises that people with increased cardiovascular and metabolic risk may benefit from earlier intervention, moving beyond BMI alone. This is a positive direction that supports better long-term health outcomes.

🔹 Medication is only one part of obesity care. Effective treatment must be delivered through integrated, person-centred care pathways that include primary care, nutrition support, physical activity, psychological support, and ongoing follow-up.

We welcome this progress in the US and hope it encourages European policymakers to build permanent, equitable healthcare systems that provide comprehensive obesity care for everyone who needs it.

Read more here: https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/weight-loss-drugs

25/06/2026

ECPO joined today's discussion at the European Parliament during European Health Future: Towards a Coordinated Agenda on Obesity & Cardiometabolic Challenges -The COTA Alliance, an event organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy (AMCHAM ).

One of the strongest messages of the day came from the voices of patient organisations across Europe. Lorenzo Radu from Romania and Iris Zani from Italy shared powerful reflections from their national contexts, alongside patient organisations from Slovenia, Slovakia, Czechia, Poland and France. Together, they highlighted the very real differences people face depending on where they live, from access to treatment and obesity care to multidisciplinary support and clear care pathways.
Their message was simple: people living with obesity across Europe deserve equitable, evidence-based care.

Too often, obesity is still framed as a lifestyle issue. This stigma is reflected in policy, filters into healthcare systems, and ultimately shapes clinical practice. That has to change. If Europe is serious about preventing cardiometabolic diseases, addressing obesity must be central to that effort. Supporting people living with obesity earlier and more effectively can improve lives while helping to prevent diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other related conditions.

ECPO Executive Director Vicki Mooney also highlighted the work of the COTA Alliance, where patient organisations are not brought in at the end of a process but are involved from the very beginning as equal partners, helping to design, implement and evaluate advocacy and policy initiatives. From Italy's progress towards legal recognition of obesity as a disease to the experiences shared by patient organisations across Central, Eastern and Western Europe, today's discussion demonstrated what meaningful patient engagement can achieve.

Vicki also stressed that while sustainability matters, we must also talk about policy durability. Robust healthcare pathways for people living with obesity and cardiometabolic diseases must be built for the long term, able to withstand political cycles, shifting priorities and changes in government.

Thank you to all patient leaders, policymakers and partners who contributed to today's discussion, and especially to AMCHAM for the invitation to participate as an equal stakeholder.

Europe's health future must be built with patients, not just for them.

19/06/2026

On Wednesday 17th of June the longest-serving member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health, Colm Burke TD, hosted an Oireachtas briefing “Tackling Obesity in Ireland: The Role of Evidence-Based Care.”

ECPO's Susie Birney, who has represented Ireland as an advocate since 2018, spoke of the need to take action and truly recognise the recurring aspect of the disease of obesity. While many attending the session raised their hands in acknowledgement that obesity is a disease, and again that it is a chronic disease, not many admitted to paying attention to the recurring aspect of this complex disease. Susie highlighted that research shows people will delay seeking care typically until after the onset of complications and other non-communicable diseases can have occurred, and that we need to stop closing the gate after the horse has bolted. To treat obesity IS also prevention.

The strong patient voice in the room was reinforced by the support and attendance of Maura Murphy and Bernie Walsh from ICPObesity, demonstrating the commitment of the patient community to advancing evidence-based obesity care in Ireland.

Ireland will take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1, 2026, holding the position for six months until December 31, 2026. They will be responsible for planning and chairing ministeral meetings, steering legislative negotiations, and brokering compromises among member states. It was inspiring to know that Colm Burke queried how he could help during Ireland's presidency with regard to the call for action to address obesity.

We look forward to watching what will emerge over the coming months in Ireland.