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The escalating rates of obesity are triggering a perilous increase in digestive diseases and cancers throughout Europe.
What’s causing the rise in digestive diseases and cancers in Europe? Obesity, particularly among individuals under 50, is a major culprit, with stigma and limited knowledge hindering early diagnosis and intervention.
The Crisis Unfolds
United European Gastroenterology (EUG) convened a pivotal event on June 5 at the European Parliament, titled Connecting the Dots: Obesity, Digestive Diseases and Cancers. Political figures, medical professionals, patient advocates, and public health leaders gathered to galvanize urgent, collaborative strategies.
Roman Eurodiputa Jerković,president of the European Parliament’s digestive health group,opened the event by emphasizing the severity of the situation. “Almost 60% of Europeans and one in three children are overweight or are obese,” Jerković stated. “Investing in prevention is not just a good health policy; it is intelligent economy.” He urged for citizen-focused, binding measures and heightened political dedication.
Alessandra Moretti highlighted that noncommunicable diseases account for 90% of deaths in the EU but receive only 2.8% of health budgets.She stressed the critical need for enhanced screening and increased research funding.
the WHO’s Warning
Dr. Kremlin Wickramasinghe, of WHO Europe, issued a stark warning in his opening address: obesity stands as the primary cause of disability in Europe, contributing to 20,000 new cancer cases annually. Dr. Wickramasinghe advocated for the implementation of impactful,system-wide measures,noting that voluntary guidelines are insufficient.
The Science Linking Obesity and Cancer
Presentations by professors Patrick Michl and Thomas Seufferlein elucidated how excess weight fuels cancer via chronic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction. Dr. Jorge Amil Dias addressed the lifelong impact of childhood obesity, while Professor Volkan Demirhan Yumuk championed multidisciplinary, person-centered care.
Policy and Action
Professor Patrizia Burra, president of the UEG public Affairs Group, initiated a debate on translating scientific findings into actionable policies. Tomislav Sokol, of the European Popular Party, asserted that obesity is a societal issue, not an individual failing, and called for a thorough EU approach akin to tobacco control.
Speakers demanded stricter regulation of food marketing, EU-wide special taxes, increased access to treatments like semaglutide, early detection of liver diseases, and structured weight management post-cancer. Above all, they emphasized the need to recognise obesity as a chronic, multifactorial disease demanding multidisciplinary attention.
A Call to Action
During a Q&A session, attendees implored politicians to integrate scientific evidence with personal experiences, particularly those of individuals living with these diseases.
Eurodiputa Jerković closed the event with a resolute call to action: “Statistics are never just numbers; they represent lives. Today we have begun to unite the points; now we must act.”
