MEP Elena Kountoura (The Left, Greece) has asked the European Commission whether it intends to recognise obesity as a chronic disease, propose a new European action plan for obesity, and support member states in awareness-raising and stigma reduction. The written question, tabled on 7 July 2026, cites that 51% of the EU population over 16 is overweight and 17% obese, costing health systems €70 billion annually, and that obesity is the fourth-leading cause of premature death worldwide.
The question follows a European Parliament resolution that explicitly recognises obesity as a non-communicable disease (NCD) and calls on the Commission to propose a comprehensive action plan with measurable indicators and monitoring mechanisms. Kountoura also references concerns from the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) that the Commission’s Safe Hearts plan does not fully address obesity as a chronic disease.
formal recognition of obesity as a chronic disease; a new EU action plan with dedicated financial tools for early diagnosis, research, and equitable access to treatments; and support for member states in public awareness campaigns, anti-stigma efforts, and integrating obesity education into healthcare professional curricula.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal whether the EU executive is prepared to shift from viewing obesity primarily as a lifestyle risk factor to treating it as a chronic disease requiring structured prevention, treatment, and funding — a move that would affect healthcare systems, patients, the food and pharmaceutical industries, and public health budgets across the EU.