€80M EU-funded Projects Launch Unprecedented Collaboration to Address the Obesity Crisis in Europe

30 January 2025

Over the past decades, obesity has reached epidemic proportions, now affecting more than 1 billion people worldwide. Childhood obesity, in particular, is rising at an alarming rate. According to the World Obesity Federation, the number of children with obesity is expected to double between 2020 and 2035. Obesity carries serious health consequences, strains national healthcare systems, and reduces overall quality of life. Despite significant efforts, obesity rates continue to rise, highlighting the need for concerted action.

In response to this growing health crisis, nine EU-backed projects have joined forces in an unprecedented collaborative effort, leading to the formation of OBEClust: the European Cluster of Obesity Research Projects. These innovative research projects focus on identifying risk factors associated with overweight and obesity, promoting prevention and behavioral interventions, as well as developing personalised solutions to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle throughout life.

More impact through collaboration

The formation of OBEClust totals € 80M in research funding from the European Union, the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government's Horizon Europe funding guarantee. This initiative underscores the importance of cross-disciplinary and cross-country collaboration in addressing the obesity crisis. By pooling scientific and technical expertise, resources, and innovative approaches, the cluster aims to create impactful, evidence-based solutions that will benefit individuals and communities across Europe. This initiative aligns with the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)’s mission to enhance health outcomes by addressing critical health challenges such as obesity.

With over 1 billion people affected by obesity worldwide, the time to act is now. OBEClust brings together a multidisciplinary network of experts and resources to find real solutions that will benefit millions across Europe and beyond

Paulo Oliveira, OBEClust’s current chair and coordinator of the PAS GRAS project

OBEClust projects are committed to jointly strengthening and aligning methods and outputs to achieve effective interventions and policy guidelines for obesity prevention and treatment. With a focus on impactful collaboration, the cluster aims to create lasting solutions, and more updates on its progress and contributions will follow.