Members of the ECPO Patient Council — Lorenzo Radu, Judit Pettkó and Alina Constantin — took part in the 10th Central European Congress on Obesity (CECON 2025). The congress took place in Iași, Romania, from 16 to 18 October, alongside the annual meeting of the Romanian Association for the Study of Obesity (RASO).
The event brought together experts, researchers, and people living with obesity to discuss new ways of improving care across Central and Eastern Europe. A key focus this year was on multidisciplinary care and the importance of including patient voices in discussions about obesity policy and practice.
Highlighting stigma and lived experience
During the congress, Lorenzo Radu presented “Obesity and Stigma: A Personal and Collective Journey.” He explained that obesity is not a matter of willpower, but a chronic and complex disease that requires understanding and support instead of blame.
Lorenzo spoke about the challenges faced by people living with obesity in Romania, where stigma, shame, and lack of coordinated care often prevent individuals from receiving the help they need.
Alina Constantin also gave a presentation on the impact of weight bias and stigma on the mental and physical health of people living with obesity. Her talk encouraged professionals to recognise how stigma affects treatment and outcomes, and to adopt more compassionate approaches in healthcare settings.
Building connections and patient-centred thinking
Judit Pettkó described this year’s congress as the best-organised CECON so far. She found the sessions powerful and inspiring, with many excellent speakers. Judit noticed a growing move toward patient-centred care, showing how the discussion about obesity is evolving. She also praised the Romanian hosts for their hospitality and said she made many new friendships during the event.
For Alina Constantin, the joint sessions between CECON and RASO gave a clear picture of obesity research and carein the region today. She noted that more experts are now using people-first language when speaking about obesity and that patient advocates play a key role in promoting holistic, person-focused care.
A growing voice for people living with obesity
The participation of ECPO’s patient council members at CECON 2025 showed the growing strength of the patient voice across Europe. By including lived experience in discussions about treatment and policy, advocates are helping to build a fairer and more understanding future for people living with obesity.
