Comment on the Paper by Uerlich et al: Obesity Management in Europe: Current Status and Objectives for the Future. Obes Facts 2016;9:273-283

The recently published paper entitled ‘Obesity management in Europe: current status and objectives for the future’ (Obes Facts 2016; 9: 273–283) summarizes the results of a survey on obesity management conducted in 23 member countries of the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) [1] . The team of authors includes experts both in obesity management and in obesity prevention and emphasizes the important role of preventive measures in changing the obesogenic environment to a leptogenic one and thus contributing to the improvement of obesity management across Europe. This is the third survey on obesity management in EASO member countries. The two previous surveys prepared by the Obesity Management Task Force (OMTF) of the EASO were conducted in 2003 [2] and 2007 (unpublished results). All surveys showed insufficient care of obese patients across Europe although the questions addressed to obesity experts differed between them. Moreover, in the previous surveys representatives of the national obesity associations (presidents or vice-presidents) filled the questionnaire after consultation with members of the National Executive Committees, while the survey by Uerlich et al. [1] included a broad spectrum of participants (e.g. researchers, general or specialized physicians, dietitians, psychologists, exercise physiologists, and social workers) who were invited to participate by the presidents of the national obesity associations. Received: July 13, 2016 Accepted: September 28, 2016 Published online: November 30, 2016