As Prof. Maria Hassapidou, Lead of the ESDN Obesity, highlights:

“Dietitians play a crucial role in understanding the multifactorial causes of obesity and offering personalised care based on sustainable lifestyle changes.”

Rather than promoting quick fixes that often lead to frustration or weight cycling, dietitians work alongside individuals to build realistic, science-based dietary patterns that can last a lifetime.

Ellen Govers adds:

“Obesity is a complex disease that involves all parts of life. Dietitians are there to help people living with obesity with a comprehensive treatment.”

Liisa Tolvanen explains:

“Dietitians support people with obesity to build sustainable, science-based dietary patterns that truly last. Instead of promoting short-term ‘quick fixes’ that often lead to frustration, weight cycling, or suboptimal results, dietitians focus on meaningful, achievable behaviour change. They work with individuals with obesity over time, monitoring progress, adjusting strategies as life evolves, and providing steady support through challenges, transitions, and health gains.

Dietitians’ approach is grounded in evidence and empathy, empowering people to make changes that support health, wellbeing, and confidence for the long term. By applying a compassionate, person-centred approach to obesity, dietitians help individuals navigate complex challenges without blame or stigma.

Real change takes time. Dietitians walk beside you every step of the way.”

By translating complex nutrition science into practical, achievable steps, dietitians help people integrate healthier behaviours into their everyday lives.

As Ceren Yolacan notes:

“Bringing evidence-based nutrition into real-life contexts is where dietitians make a difference. Translating science into practical, achievable steps helps individuals maintain healthier behaviours over time.”

Equally important is the compassionate and stigma-free environment that dietitians create. They provide a safe space where people can share their lived experiences with food, weight regulation, and health without judgment.

As Antonis Vlassopoulos emphasises:

“Dietitians play an important role in removing weight stigma and enabling people to share their lived experiences with food intake and weight regulation. Dietitians are a safe space for people to discuss food and weight.”

Because obesity is a complex, chronic disease that affects many aspects of life, effective care requires collaboration. Partnerships between health professionals and patient organisations are essential to strengthen a unified, evidence-based approach and ensure that the voices of people living with obesity remain at the centre of care.

As highlighted by the European Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ECPO), addressing weight stigma and ensuring respect, dignity, and compassionate care must remain at the heart of our efforts.

Speaking on behalf of ECPO, Sólveig Sigurðardóttir, Board Member, shared:

“On World Obesity Day, I am proud to speak on behalf of ECPO and to highlight the importance of collaboration with EFAD.

Working together across professions and patient organizations strengthens a unified, evidence based approach to obesity as a complex, chronic disease.

Equally important is respect and dignity for people living with obesity. Addressing weight stigma and ensuring compassionate, person centered care must remain at the heart of our efforts.”

Behind every person living with obesity there is a unique story, context and set of challenges.

As Daniela Ojeda Mercado reminds us:

“Behind every person living with obesity there is a unique story, context and set of challenges. Dietitians listen without judgement, provide evidence-based guidance, and work alongside individuals to create sustainable changes that respect their needs, preferences and life circumstances.”

Dietitians listen, guide, and walk beside individuals on their journey towards sustainable health.

Because when it comes to obesity care, every person deserves personalised, respectful, and scientifically grounded support.

That’s why there are 8 billion reasons to trust a dietitian.