Obesity in June 2026: News

The European Congress on Obesity held in May highlighted the issues surrounding ultra-processed foods and social inequalities in the face of constantly changing figures. In the United States, the prevalence of GLP-1 treatments is forcing restaurants to rethink their approach. In France, fast food restaurants are facing political attacks, again underlining the socio-economic issues in the access to a balanced diet.

ECO’s findings: countering UPFs

Held in Istanbul in May 2026, the European Congress on Obesity brought together more than 4000 participants (doctors, researchers, industrialists, public health officials, etc.). Among the most important strategic axes, the speakers highlighted the omnipresence of ultra-processed foods, and the political work to be undertaken to counter the power of Big Food as an industry. Children and teenagers as well as the less privileged socio-economic groups were identified as the most vulnerable, and therefore the priority in terms of education and prevention.

These audience are also the main targets of the food industry through marketing and pricing of ultra-processed foods. As a reminder, these products, also called UPF, are foods with a high sugar, fat and salt content, including many additives and having undergone chemical processes to alter their taste or texture. They are designed to be affordable and have a long shelf life, but have a lower and often harmful nutritional value, especially when consumed in large quantities. In France, more than a third of the average daily calorie intake comes from this type of food.

GLP-1s are dining out

In the United States, one in eight adults is under treatment with one of the new semaglutide molecules known as GLP-1, drugs (Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, etc.) capable of influencing the patient’s feeling of fullness and therefore allowing rapid weight loss. These molecules have a significant effect on appetite and digestion, with a direct influence on patients’ diet. While the American food industry has already begun to adapt its products to these new demands, restaurants are now on the front line of this new public asking for small portions of protein and easily digestible foods. In an industry already in crisis due to the high cost of living, many restaurants are adapting their menus to offer smaller plates.

France: mayor versus fast-food

In Saint-Ouen, just outside Paris, a struggle is taking place between the mayor and a fast-food chain specialising in chicken. The official underlines the increasing presence of such restaurants in his town, and his desire that young people of Saint Ouen should be able to access “quality food”. While this case is making the headlines, it also sums up a worrying situation in France and other countries affected by an increase in obesity among young people. Fast food chains abound in working-class neighborhoods, creating “food swamps” where access to affordable but unbalanced menus is easier than choosing a healthy diet.

To tackle this issue, several French municipalities have introduced a Food Vital Card. Inspired of France’s general social‑security system, this still‑small‑scale initiative aims to guarantee every resident a monthly entitlement of €150 in conventioned food products, funded by a single social contribution and democratically managed by local funds that are coordinated by a national body. As highlighted at the European Congress on Obesity, it is primarily the economic and social dimensions that sit at the forefront of the fight against overweight.