Addressing the growing prevalence of diabetes and obesity

About the event

IDF Europe is convening an event to highlight the urgent need for integrated strategies to address two of the most pressing public health challenges in Europe: obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). These closely linked conditions place a growing burden on individuals, societies and health systems, and are strongly connected to other cardiometabolic diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Importantly, obesity and diabetes are not driven solely by behaviour or environment. A person’s susceptibility is also shaped by genetic predisposition, metabolic variation, early-life programming and other non-modifiable risk factors. Limited understanding of the complex biological, social and environmental drivers of these conditions often contributes to stigma, which can create significant barriers to care for those living with these conditions. From a health-sector perspective, the fragmentation between prevention and clinical care often leads to missed opportunities: prevention programmes rarely link seamlessly to diagnostic or treatment pathways and clinical services often lack upstream prevention components.

This event aims to shed light on the connection between T2D and obesity, particularly in light of the growing attention given to cardiometabolic conditions, as highlighted by the recent EU Safe Hearts Plan of the European Commission. Understanding the diabetes–obesity link is essential for implementing policies that effectively address the complexity of these conditions and has a tangible impact on the prevention and management of cardiovascular and other chronic conditions.

This policy dialogue is hosted by MEP Romana Jerkovic (S&D, Croatia), a dedicated member of the MEPs Mobilising for Diabetes Interest Group (MMD Group). The event will bring together multiple stakeholders including MEPs, experts, academics, clinicians, healthcare professionals, patient organisations, and policymakers with an aim to:

• Support a better understanding of obesity and T2D through the lens of lived experience
• Provide a clearer understanding of the clinical links between T2D and obesity
• Feature the unique challenges of T2D and obesity in children and adolescents
• Highlight the importance of an integrated approach to care and prevention
• Emphasise the need to ensure equitable access to care and treatment
• Address stigma, working towards improved quality of life for those living with these conditions

The event will end on a call for strong consideration to T2D and obesity into the European Parliament’s “Own-initiative” (INI) procedure for a new EU Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Strategy with a focus on prevention since an early age, access to innovation and person-centered integrated care.

Programme

10:00-10:20 | Opening remarks

• MEP Romana Jerković (S&D, Croatia)
• Linda Kølleskov, T2D advocate, member of the IDF Europe T2gether group, Faroe Island
• Prof. João Raposo, IDF Europe Chair Elect, Medical Director at APDP, Diabetes Portugal, President of the Portuguese Society of Diabetology (SPD)

10:20-10:40 | Early intervention for lifelong health: tackling childhood obesity and T2D

• Prof. Carine De Beaufort, OBEDIA-Kids, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg

10:40-10:55 | Twin epidemics, shared solutions: towards person-centred and better integrated care for obesity and T2D in Europe

• Prof. Bart Van der Schueren, Specialist in Endocrinology, University Hospital Leuven,  Belgium, and President of the Belgische Vereniging voor de Studie van Obesitas (BASO)

10:55-11:20 | Panel discussion: prevention strategies, early intervention and integrated care pathways

• Prof. João Raposo, IDF Europe Chair Elect, Medical Director at APDP, Diabetes Portugal, President of the Portuguese Society of Diabetology (SPD)
• Christian Petersen, T2D advocate, Member of IDF Europe Together group, Chairman of My Identity with Type 2 Diabetes (MYIDT2D), Denmark
• Natasja Wijling, ECPO Obesity advocate, Co-chair of the Dutch Association for Overweight & Obesity, The Netherlands
• Maurizio Guidi, Co-Chair, EFPIA Obesity Platform, Italy
• Prof. Bart Van der Schueren, Specialist in Endocrinology, University Hospital Leuven, President of the Belgische Vereniging voor de Studie van Obesitas (BASO)

11:20-11:35 | Stigma in Obesity and T2D: impacts on health outcomes and quality of life

• Prof. Katarzyna Cyranka, Head of Psychodiabetology Unit Department of Metabolic Diseases, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jagiellonian University Medical College

11:35-11:50 | Panel discussion: lived experience and policy strategies to improve access, address disparities and tackle stigma

• Prof. João Raposo, IDF Europe Chair Elect, Medical Director at APDP, Diabetes Portugal, President of the Portuguese Society of Diabetology (SPD)
• Christian Petersen, T2D advocate, Member of IDF Europe Together group, Chairman of My Identity with Type 2 Diabetes (MYIDT2D), Denmark
• Diana Castillo, Obesity advocate and President of the European Coaltion for People living with Obesity, ECPO, Italy
• Christina Holton Moloney, Novo Nordisk representative, EFPIA
• Prof. Katarzyna Cyranka, Head of Psychodiabetology Unit Department of Metabolic Diseases, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jagiellonian University Medical College

11:50-12:00 | Closing remarks

• Prof. João Raposo, IDF Europe Chair Elect, Medical Director at APDP, Diabetes Portugal, President of the Portuguese Society of Diabetology (SPD)