5 March 2025

To mark World Obesity Day, on March 4, 2025, MMD Member MEP Laurent Castillo (EPP, France) hosted the event “Gateway to Better Health – the Case for Coordinated EU Action on Obesity” at the European Parliament. The event brought together policymakers, experts and stakeholders to address the rising burden of obesity and its strong link to diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Discussions underscored the urgent need for a coordinated European health strategy to tackle these interconnected challenges.

Despite the established relationship between obesity, type 2 diabetes and other NCD – such as cancer, kidney diseases, cardiovascular diseases and others – EU health policies remain fragmented, missing critical opportunities for prevention, early detection and integrated care.

In a video intervention, Commissioner Oliver Várhelyi highlighted the alarming rise in obesity and diabetes, and their direct link to cardiovascular diseases. He called for urgent action to address shared risk factors and warned that previous efforts focusing solely on personal health choices had proven insufficient. He urged policymakers to develop new, comprehensive strategies to tackle these conditions more effectively.

Prof. João Raposo emphasised the inequalities in diabetes care across EU Member States, highlighting that one-third of people living with diabetes remain undiagnosed, putting them at greater risk of developing diabetes-related complications . He stressed that type 2 diabetes and obesity reflect deeper social and economic inequalities, which further strain healthcare systems. Despite the growing burden, current policy responses remain inadequate. Prof. Raposo also emphasised the persistent stigma surrounding these conditions, which limits access to care and exacerbates health disparities.

The event re-emphasized the urgent need for a unified EU health strategy that addresses the interconnected nature of obesity, diabetes and other NCDs. It was made clear, a siloed approach to tackle these conditions is no longer sustainable. As obesity and diabetes rates continue to rise, integrated prevention, early detection and person-centred care are essential to improve health outcomes and ensure the sustainability of European healthcare systems.

The MMD Group thanks MMD Member, MEP Laurent Castillo, for hosting this important event and calls on EU institutions to adopt a holistic, integrated approach to diabetes, obesity and CVD. In the context of the forthcoming EU Cardiovascular Health Plan, it is imperative to address these interconnected challenges through comprehensive, person-centred policies that reflect the realities faced by millions across Europe.