Europe is facing an obesity crisis of epidemic proportions, one that threatens to overwhelm the EU’s already struggling economies and place a tremendous burden on its healthcare systems. It is a health challenge that cuts into many areas beyond healthcare, including the single market, regulation, trade and the economy. Yet, policymakers appear divided over how to confront the continent’s weight issue; some campaigners say policymakers are failing to recognise the scope of the problem. In a new study, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has studied the current national and EU-level approaches to obesity policy, and identified the weaknesses in current efforts. Furthermore, it discusses novel strategies for how policy can be adapted to more effectively confront the scale of the obesity problem. And it prompts the question – for policymakers as well as medical professionals – what can we do to tackle obesity in Europe?

PROGRAMME

14:15 Introduction

14:20 Approaches to fighting obesity, Artur Furtado, DG Health and Food Safety, European Commission

14:40 Tackling obesity in Europe: Presentation of EIU study, Martin Koehring, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

15:00 Obesity and diabetes: taking the patient view, David Cavan, Director of Policy and Programmes, the International Diabetes Federation

15:20 Coffee/Tea break

15:40 Interactive panel discussion: Francesco Rubino, Professor and Chair of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, King’s College London, Michelle Brennan, Company Group Chair, Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices EMEA and Roberto Bertollini, Chief Scientist and WHO Representative to the European Union

17:00 A policy agenda to fight obesity, Alfred Sant (tbc), Member of the European Parliament

17:30 End notes