ECO 2025

During ECO2025, ECPO proudly led the largest-ever delegation of people living with obesity at a global congress. With over 70 patient advocates in attendance, ECO2025 marked a turning point—where lived experience was not only represented but placed at the heart of scientific, policy, and advocacy discussions.

Congress Highlight: Patients – The Untapped Tool in Your Toolkit

A true highlight of ECO2025 was the ECPO-led symposium, “Patients – The Untapped Tool in Your Toolkit” — the first-ever patient-led plenary session at the European Congress on Obesity. This groundbreaking event signified a major shift toward meaningful patient inclusion at the heart of scientific and healthcare discussions.

Chaired by ECPO Executive Director Vicki Mooney and ECPO Board Member Jason Halford, the session brought together leading voices from both patient advocacy and the clinical and policy arenas to explore how lived experience can—and should—inform all aspects of obesity care, research, and strategy.

Two people sit at a conference table with electronic devices, in front of a colorful backdrop featuring an architectural image.

The session featured a dynamic series of presentations and conversations:

  • Susie Birney (ECPO Operations Director) and Dr. Jean O’Connell explored the importance of shared understanding and how collaboration between patients and clinicians improves outcomes.

Three photos show speakers presenting at the 32nd European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain, with an audience listening and slides displayed on a screen.
  • Ken Clare (ECPO Project Manager) and Professor Louisa Ells discussed how to embed lived experience in education and research, ensuring that patients are not just participants, but co-creators of knowledge.
Three images show speakers presenting and an audience listening at the 32nd European Congress on Obesity, with event banners and projection screens visible.
  • Natasja Wijling and Ian Patton shared perspectives on peer support, stigma, and how national-level advocacy efforts can scale up to impact global thinking.
Three photos show speakers presenting at the 32nd European Congress on Obesity in Málaga, Spain, standing at a podium with the event's colorful backdrop behind them.
  • Johanna Ralston, CEO of the World Obesity Federation, provided a global health perspective, reinforcing the urgent need to integrate patient voices into all obesity-related policymaking.
A speaker stands at a podium presenting at the 32nd European Congress on Obesity in Málaga, Spain, as attendees listen in a conference room.
  • Konstantin Voynikov, representing youth voices, brought sharp focus to the role of younger generations in reshaping the narrative and contributing to long-term change.
A conference on obesity in Malaga, Spain, with audience members seated and a large screen showing a speaker via video call behind two panelists.

Each talk emphasised the value of co-production and the need to reframe how healthcare systems, professionals, and researchers engage with people living with obesity. Rather than being seen as passive recipients of care, patients were shown as a critical, yet underused, resource—ready and equipped to shape more effective, compassionate, and inclusive obesity solutions.

The voice of lived experience

The presence of ECPO at ECO 2025 was visible, active, and impactful throughout the congress. With the goal of amplifying the voice of people living with obesity, our team of patient advocates ensured that the lived experience perspective was fully embedded in the event.

A key elements of our presence was the ECPO Booth. This was a central hub for conversation and connection, the ECPO booth was staffed throughout the congress by dedicated patient advocates. Delegates had the opportunity to speak directly with people living with obesity, learn more about our mission, and explore our educational materials.

Global Collaboration

For the first time, ECPO welcomed the international GOPA (Global Obesity Patient Alliance) community to attend ECO2025 as part of its patient initiative. This gathering brought together patient representatives from across continents, highlighting the shared challenges faced by people living with obesity—regardless of country or health system.

This collaboration sent a clear message: global cooperation among patient groups is not just valuable—it’s necessary. Together, ECPO and GOPA helped reinforce the need for consistent, person-centred care standards and the inclusion of patient voices in global discussions on prevention, treatment, and rights.

Find out more about GOPA – www.gopa.org

Patient-Led Sessions: Lived Experience at the Centre

ECPO played a central role in two key sessions focused on youth and young adult advocacy.

In “The Patients’ Voice: ECPO Youths”, Jamie Wiegertjes and Sveinn Runar Sveinson spoke openly about their journeys, highlighting how critical it is for young people to be included in conversations that affect their lives and futures. Their experiences underscored how peer support and meaningful involvement can influence everything from treatment pathways to public understanding.

In the topic session “The Transition to Adult Health Care”, Jamie, Sveinn, and Mia Maloney explored the often-overlooked challenges that young people face when moving from paediatric to adult services. The session made a strong case for coordinated care that recognises both clinical and emotional needs, and how these transitions can either support or undermine long-term wellbeing.

These sessions gave voice to a new generation of advocates and offered clear, practical insights for healthcare professionals and policymakers.

Throughout the congress, a number of key patient advocates also contributed to scientific and professional sessions, including:

  • Vicki Mooney on weight stigma, and the WHO Acceleration Plan to stop Obesity

  • Mari-Mette Graff in a teaching workshop on physical activity

  • Solveig Sigurardottir as co-chair in a symposium on obesity across the life course in women

  • Alison Lake and Alina Constantin presenting ECPO lived experience

  • Susie Birney as co-chair in a mental health abstract session

  • Diana Castillo as co-chair in the CIBERobn Symposium

  • Ken Clare co-chairing a session on the syndemic of obesity and mental health

From clinical symposia and teaching workshops to abstract discussions and panel sessions, ECPO ensured that patient perspectives were represented, respected, and central to the discourse at ECO2025.

Visualising the Science

Understanding the complex science of obesity can be challenging for many—especially for patient advocates and individuals living with the condition.

To make key messages more accessible, ECPO has previously used live scribing—a visual storytelling method that captures training content in real time.

These visual summaries were printed onto large banners and displayed throughout the congress. They quickly gained attention, proving popular with journalists, film crews, and content creators, many of whom used the artwork as vibrant and informative backdrops in interviews and video recordings.

Due to its popularity and impact, we invited our talented Live Scribe, Liam, to join us at ECO2025.

He visually documented several key sessions involving patients, as well as our training workshops. These engaging visual summaries are currently being finalised and will be shared soon on our website and social media channels.

 

 

A person draws on a tablet in the audience while two speakers stand on stage at the European Congress on Obesity, with event signage in the background.
Person using a stylus to draw sketches and take handwritten notes on a tablet screen displaying colorful and black-and-white illustrations.
Three people walk past a photo exhibition titled “A journey with Rose” displayed on a marble wall in a public indoor space with directional signs overhead.

“A Journey with ROSE”: Storytelling Through Photography

A Journey with ROSE was a standout feature of the congress. This moving photo documentary by Gisela Pretel follows Rose, a woman living with obesity, over five years. The exhibit combined photography, audio, and video to portray her lived experience with honesty, vulnerability, and strength.

Through symbolic imagery and Rose’s own narration, visitors were invited to reflect on the emotional and social realities of living with a chronic condition like obesity. The exhibition challenged viewers to move past stereotypes and recognise the complex, human side of this disease.

Displayed throughout the week, A Journey with ROSE became a quiet but powerful space within the busy congress—sparking reflection and meaningful conversations.

Training to Empower: Building Skills and Confidence for Advocacy

During the congress, ECPO delivered a dedicated programme of training sessions tailored for the patient advocates attending the congress. These sessions were designed to strengthen knowledge, deepen understanding of key issues, and equip delegates with the tools needed to engage meaningfully in scientific and policy discussions.

Covering topics from stigma to gender-specific health considerations, the training programme reflected ECPO’s commitment to capacity-building and patient leadership.

BE4ACTION – Led by Prof. Louisa Ells

This session focused on developing effective and inclusive advocacy strategies, encouraging patient delegates to use their lived experience to shape change. With an emphasis on confidence-building and strategic communication, Prof. Ells guided participants through how to structure and deliver impactful messages that influence policy and public understanding.

Three photos show a woman giving a presentation to a seated audience in a yellow room, with slides projected onto a screen.

WOF & GOPA – Global Collaboration in Action

In this joint session hosted by the World Obesity Federation and the Global Obesity Patient Alliance, delegates explored the growing movement of international patient advocacy. The training highlighted the importance of cross-border collaboration, showcased successful campaigns, and discussed how local voices can feed into global change.

Three-panel image shows a speaker addressing an audience in a yellow-walled room, and attendees seated, listening and using electronic devices.

Weight Stigma: Framing and Internalisation – Led by Prof. Stuart Flint

This powerful session unpacked how weight stigma is framed in society, media, and healthcare—and how it can be internalised by individuals. Prof. Flint challenged participants to critically reflect on stigma, language, and self-perception, empowering them to reframe narratives and advocate for respectful, person-first approaches to care.

A presenter speaks to an audience in a yellow-walled room; one woman holds a microphone to ask a question during the session.

Obesity and Women’s Health – Led by Erla Gerður Sveinsdóttir

Erla’s session delved into the specific challenges women face in relation to obesity, from diagnosis and treatment bias to reproductive health and hormonal considerations. Delegates explored how gender can influence both experience and care, and discussed the importance of tailored approaches in healthcare policy and practice.

A woman stands at a podium giving a presentation on "Obesity and women’s health," with a projection screen showing a woman drinking water.

Obesity and Men’s Health – Led by Dr. Michael Crotty

This session brought attention to the often-overlooked intersection between obesity and men’s health. Dr. Crotty explored issues such as stigma, emotional health, and barriers to seeking care—particularly in men who may not feel represented in obesity narratives. It sparked important discussions around inclusion and visibility.

Exploring Goodself – A Healthy Social Media Platform for Weight and Chronic Health Management

A training session introducing Goodself, a trusted social media platform designed to support individuals managing weight health, obesity, and related chronic conditions. 

Participants were given a comprehensive overview of Goodself’s features, including:

  • Access to support groups tailored to individual needs

  • Expert-led talks on a range of relevant health topics

  • Courses, programs, and a Q&A library to empower informed decision-making

  • Health reminders designed to support daily wellness routines

A man speaks at an event; next to him is a promotional slide for Goodself, a health-focused social platform, with an app interface and description.

These training sessions were more than lectures—they were opportunities for reflection, conversation, and shared learning. They helped build a stronger, more connected patient community ready to represent lived experience on a global stage.

Logos of various health and science organizations, including Lilly, Boehringer Ingelheim, Medtronic, Roche, Boston Scientific, goodself, WAVE, EASO, and World Obesity.

 

 

 

ECPO has received support for the development and delivery of our activities which are taking place during ECO.

Our work remains entirely independent and our supporters have no influence over our content, messaging, or strategic priorities.