Childhood Obesity at a Crossroads: Prevention and Management Take Centre Stage at the 35th Annual ECOG Congress in Salzburg

Europe’s leading childhood obesity congress unites scientists, clinicians and policymakers under the theme „ImpACT“ — with urgent calls for population-level prevention and new evidence on the management of children and adolescents living with obesity.

SALZBURG, Austria — Europe’s leading expert group on childhood obesity — the European Childhood Obesity Group (ECOG) — is opening its 35th yearly conference today, 16 September 2026, at the University of Salzburg in Austria. Under the theme “ImpACT”, doctors, researchers and health professionals from across Europe and beyond are gathering in Salzburg for three days of cutting-edge science covering everything related to obesity in children and young people — from large-scale prevention programmes all the way to the latest medications and weight-loss surgery. The “green event” conference can also be attended online. It is led by Prof. Susanne Ring-Dimitriou and Prof. Daniel Weghuber, with Prof. David Thivel from France serving as president of the group.

“ImpACT is not just a congress theme — it is a call to action. Science has given us the tools, now we must work together across disciplines and sectors to implement evidence into real life for children’s health,” says Prof. Susanne Ring-Dimitriou, Congress Chair.

Prevention: Turning Research into Real-World Policy

A key message running through the entire conference is that preventing obesity in children requires well-organised efforts across many different areas of society — not just healthcare, but also schools, families, food systems and government policy. The first day kicks off with a headline talk on where we currently stand with childhood obesity prevention and what complex, large-scale programmes can achieve. This is followed by results from four major Europe-wide research projects — Better4U, eProbes, Obelisk, and Pas Gras — all funded by the EU and focused on finding better ways to tackle childhood obesity. The final congress day features the Obelisk EU Policy Workshop, convening Austrian federal and state officials to translate research into concrete policy action. Prof. Amandine Garde (University of Liverpool, UK) closes the congress with a retrospective on „20 Years of EU Obesity Prevention Policy.“

“The European burden of childhood obesity demands a coordinated scientific response. The ECOG Annual Congress is where the best evidence meets the political will to act. ImpACT captures what this congress must achieve: science that translates into measurable health impact for children,” says Prof. David Thivel, ECOG President.

Treatment: What’s New in Weight-Loss Medications, Digital Health Tools, and the Long-Term Results of Weight-Loss Surgery

Experts share the newest research on how to use medications to help children with obesity — including children whose weight problems are caused by a rare genetic condition or by damage to a specific part of the brain that controls hunger and body weight. Special presentations share the latest real-world results on a newer class of weight-loss injections (such as semaglutide) in children and teenagers — looking at how they affect body fat, blood sugar and other health markers, whether they are safe, and how to help young patients stick with their treatment.

On 18 September, an interactive workshop guides participants on how to combine healthy eating plans with medication, and dedicated digital health sessions explore how apps and online tools can support treatment and encourage better eating habits. The conference also looks at how well weight-loss surgery holds up over many years, and how non-surgical approaches can be made more sustainable in the long run.

Ultimately, every child with obesity is different — so all available treatment options need to be carefully matched to that individual child and kept up over time. The key to lasting success is bringing all these tools together within a well-organised, joined-up care plan.

“We are at a turning point in childhood obesity medicine. New pharmacological options and interdisciplinary strategies have transformed today´s management — but their greatest potential is realised when integrated into prevention-first, structured care pathways,” emphasises Prof. Daniel Weghuber, Congress Co-Chair.

As Prof. Ring-Dimitriou emphasises: „We must not pit prevention against therapy. Leaving gaps in healthcare provision creates higher long-term costs through diabetes, cardiovascular disease, psychosocial and other complications. A future-proof health policy must consistently think prevention, structured care, and modern treatment options together.“

Young Investigators and Sustainability

The congress honours early-career researchers (age 35 and under) through its Young Investigator Award (YIA). Certified as a Green Meeting with the Austrian Ecolabel (Umweltzeichen), the congress reflects ECOG’s conviction that sustainable science and sustainable health are inseparable goals.

About the Congress

The 35th ECOG Annual Congress „ImpACT“ takes place 16—18 September 2026 at the University of Salzburg, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, and is also accessible online. Chairs: Prof. Susanne Ring-Dimitriou and Prof. Daniel Weghuber. ECOG President: Prof. David Thivel. Supporters: City of Salzburg (Stadt Salzburg), Universitat Salzburg, „Bewegte Stadt.“  Read more on the ECOG-website.

Press Contact

European Childhood Obesity Group (ECOG)
 ECOG-website

Univ.-Prof.in Susanne Ring-Dimitriou

Universität Salzburg I Sport- und Bewegungswissenschaft
Schlossallee 49 | 5400 Hallein
Tel: +43 662 8044-4890
E-Mail an: Univ.-Prof.in Susanne Ring-Dimitriou

Univ.-Prof. Dr.med.univ. Daniel Weghuber

Tel.: +43 (0)5 7255-26100
Web:  SALK-Kinderklinik
 E-Mail an: Univ.-Prof. Dr.med.univ. Daniel Weghuber