Yesterday (4 March) marked World Obesity Day, a crucial opportunity to raise awareness about this complex and chronic disease. The statistics paint a concerning picture: according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of children and adolescents (aged 5-19) living with obesity has quadrupled from 1990 to 2022. Moreover, the World Obesity Federation predicts a further 100% increase in childhood obesity between 2020 and 2035. What can we do in response to these alarming data?

The Urgent Need for Change

The 2025 World Obesity Day theme is “Changing Systems, Healthier Lives”, while the theme of World Obesity Day Europe is “Addressing Obesity Together”. We couldn’t agree more with these mottos, as obesity requires a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, capable of revolutionising the existing approaches. Indeed, many systems contribute to the prevalence of obesity: governments with inadequate policies, the food industry with ultra-processed food (from supermarkets to schools), and society, with its strong stigma towards people living with obesity. Every stakeholder involved must work together to create an environment that supports healthy lifestyles.

Of Stigmas and Bias

Negative portrayals of individuals with obesity as lazy or lacking in willpower perpetuate harmful stereotypes and hinder progress, and are everywhere to be seen across society. Bias affects media representation, healthcare practices, and even school environments. For example, some healthcare practitioners may unconsciously perceive patients as non-compliant with treatment, particularly those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Similarly, some teachers may unintentionally limit learning opportunities for students with obesity due to preconceived notions. Not to mention the bullying and exclusion that children and adolescents living with obesity may face – which can have severe repercussions in their mental health.

ECPO Weight Stigma Infographic

Challenging Bias and Promoting Person-Centered Care

The European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), a key partner in the BIO-STREAMS project, has taken a significant step towards tackling this stigma with its Person-First Language Guide. This valuable tool challenges existing biases by promoting careful and respectful language when discussing obesity and those affected by it. EASO’s person-centered approach emphasizes non-alarmistic language and prioritises the well-being of individuals with obesity, recognizing that they are more than just their illness. For example, a single change from “obese patient” to “ patient living with obesity” can be more compassionate towards the person, not reducing them to the illness they’re affected by.

BIO-STREAMS World Obesity Day Presence

Our consortium partners are active participants at industry conferences, and two of them participated in key events yesterday. Due to the importance of obesity prevention in our consortium, we consider March #ObesityPreventionMonth, and we will raise awareness of this complex disease.

Izidor Mlakar, our Clinical Coordinator from the University of Maribor Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, HUMADEX research group, joined the eprobes project at its European Workshop for Prevention of Obesity in Brussels, Belgium. He presented BIO-STREAMS and emphasized the importance of stakeholder involvement.

“We are trying to build a different environment where children and parents come first in our designed solutions”, Izidor said while presenting some recent comics that were created for personalised workshops with children of different age groups.

Clinical Coordinator Izidor Mlakar at the European Workshop for Prevention of Obesity

The Workshop also focused on synergies, and Paulo Oliveira, current OBEClust Chair and PAS GRAS project coordinator, stressed the importance of collaboration among projects for a better chance of changing current policies.

But this is not everything. Partner CHUL, with Project Managers Zheshen Chan and Nicolas Gillain, held an open-day event at the Centre Pédiatrique Multidisciplinaire de prise en charge de l’Obésité (CPMO), Department of Pediatrics of CHUL, led by co-investigator Dr. Lebrethon. Among participants there were hospital staff, scientists, parents, and children.

BIO-STREAMS French Project Roll-up at CHU Liège, Belgium

On this occasion, the BIO-STREAMS project was presented in French, the local language, through targeted promotional materials such as flyers and a roll-up. The event was also an opportunity to raise awareness of healthy eating habits and to recruit participants for the incoming clinical workshops.

Stay tuned for more, as we continue this monthly campaign on obesity prevention!