The European Congress on Obesity (ECO) 2025, taking place from 11–14 May in Málaga, Spain, marks the 32nd edition of Europe’s largest annual scientific conference on obesity. Organised by the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), ECO brings together a vibrant community of over 20,000 experts, including scientists, healthcare practitioners, physicians, public health professionals, early-career researchers, students, and patients. The congress serves as a core platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and showcasing cutting-edge research and innovation in obesity prevention and treatment.
EU Project Village: A Hub for Innovation
A standout feature of this year’s congress is the EU Project Village, a dedicated space within the exhibition hall that highlights EU-funded research projects and promotes collaboration across the obesity research landscape. The BIO-STREAMS project was prominently featured, represented in Málaga by partners AINIGMA, TMA, and University of Maribor (UM). The team engaged with attendees to present the project’s innovative approach, leveraging AI and digital technologies to deliver personalised interventions for children and their families. Several consortium partners, including Telematic Medical Applications, Ainigma Technologies, Harokopio University of Athens and Vall d’Hebron University Hospital of Barcelona also contributed scientific abstracts highlighting the project’s research progress.
One of the key dissemination formats at ECO were the Lightning Talks, a series of brief, five-minute presentations offering quick insights into project goals and achievements. Among the presenters were Izidor Mlakar (University of Maribor, Humadex research group), acting as BIO-STREAMS’ Clinical Coordinator, and Marios Prasinos (Chief Technology Officer at Telematic Medical Applications), a core technical partner. Their talks were chaired by Professor George Dedoussis, Professor of Human Biology at the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Harokopio University, Athens.
TMA showcased its Active Health App, a gamified mobile application designed to improve health literacy among children through interactive learning on healthy eating habits. The University of Maribor presented the project from its role as Clinical Coordinator highlighting its unique features, while Emmanouil Hatzakis (AINIGMA) introduced a poster titled “Development of a Large Language Model Chatbot to Support Healthcare Professionals in Childhood Obesity Cases”, highlighting the project’s AI-driven tools to enhance clinical support.
In addition, sibling initiatives from the European Cluster of Obesity Research Projects (OBEClust) BETTER4U and OBCT participated in ECO, stressing the common goal of halting the rising obesity epidemic in Europe.