Call for obesity to be categorised as an NCD by EU Council

by | Nov 5, 2020 | COVID-19 News, European News, News

Ecpo Supports The Call For Obesity To Be Included As A Non-communicable Disease In The EU4Health Programme

We are delighted to partner with 38 stakeholder organisations and 6 MEPs in signing an open letter to health ministers and their permanent representatives to the EU, calling for obesity be included as a non-communicable disease in the EU4Health programme.

Our patient community were relieved to read that the European Commission correctly placed Obesity in the medically vunerable category in light of COVID-19, and further more the latest Foresight Report specifically prioritises obesity alongside Cancer as two NCSd that should take top priority.

However, it feels like a step back to read of late that the EU Council has positioned Obesity as a lifestyle risk factor, which the patient community in collaboration with the scientific have worked tirelessly to address. We know Obesity is a chronic relapsing, progresive and complex disease, let’s marry the science with the policy and categorise Obesity as an NCD.

MEP signatories:

  • MEP Pernille WEISS, Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats)
  • MEP Biljana BORZAN, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
  • MEP Sara CERDAS, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
  • MEP Linea SØGAARD-LIDELL, Renew Europe Group
  • MEP Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Renew Europe Group
  • MEP Jutta PAULUS, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance

Check out our patient infographic –  Obesity is an NCD