White logo with three abstract human figures above the text "ADIPOSITAS PACT STICHTING | FONDATION PACTE ADIPOSITE FOUNDATION FOR THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS WITH OBESITY" on a light background.

Pacte Adiposité – Adipositas Pact is a Private Foundation established under Belgian law representing the rights of citizens with obesity.

 

Chapter 2

The right to a quality service fromearly diagnosis and screening through to treatmentand long term management.

90% of people living with Type 2 Diabetes in Belgium developed Type 2 Diabetes due to a lack of treatment of obesity as the chronic disease that it is.

The Belgian Quality of Health care Practice – Law of 2019 – the right to a quality care delivery service, as well as the 2011 European Directive on patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare guarantees patients the right to be informed, but also the right to be reimbursed for both cross-border care and care provided in Belgium.

However, in the case of obesity, this is not a reality for many. Around 80% of surveyed individuals in Belgium reported good possibilities for medical help with obesity, but highlighted issues with long-term follow-up and multidisciplinary support. Respondents noted a lack of mental support and that the focus on behavior was excessive, with inadequate attention given to other factors.

Our situational analysis clearly demonstrates that where particular services are technically available, they may not be generally accessible due to affordability considerations , lack of sufficient trained professionals to deliver the service and/ no uniform coverage across Belgium.

A Roadmap should be developed (including an implementation plan) to allow for a stepped-care approach to obesity as a chronic disease to include both the physical and mental health aspects to this medical condition.

Endorse this Chapter

Table of Contents

  1. A protected legal status for the 4.5 million People Living with pre-Obesity and obesity in Belgium
  2. The right to a quality service from early diagnosis and screening through to treatment and long term management.
  3. A right to access to early diagnosis and screening for obesity in its own right
  4. Access to acute interdisciplinary treatment and long-term management
  5. The right to free choice of your healthcare provider
  6. The right to information about your state of health
  7. Rights concerning primary and secondary use of our health information
  8. The right to participate in shaping, monitoring and evaluating the healthcare system from policies to practices

The Roadmap should include

  • An evaluation of the extent the Belgian health system for the diagnosis, treatment and long term management of obesity is fit for purpose with a focus on what matters to People Living with Obesity taken at the centre of reforms.
  • Creation of long term registries for people at risk of developing and also those already living with the biology of obesity throughout our life course. These registries should be interconnected with other major medical complications of obesity (cancers, different types of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases and mental health and neurological disorders).
  • Patients, health professionals and policymakers as well as related sectors, should all be continuously educated on the biological underpinnings of obesity and how their area of work can impact health outcomes.
  • Patients, health professionals and policy makers in our survey wrongly mentioned food intake as the most important root cause of adult obesity.
  • The scientifically proven root causes such as hormonal factors, side effects of medication and a lack of sleep were considered as least important root causes of obesity.
Chapter 1
Chapter 3
Assorted dried flowers, grasses, and leaves arranged in a row on a textured, light-colored surface.

Acknowledgements

The Foundation for the Rights of Citizens with Obesity is a non-profit Private Foundation established under Belgian law, led by citizens of lived experience with obesity representing our rights towards access to healthcare.

This project has been driven by and for us in collaboration with VUB and KU Leuven as Research Partners.

We would also like to acknowledge the financial support and contribution of expertise as part of the multi-stakeholder focus groups from Novo Nordisk Belgium, J&J Belgium and Third-i bvba in the realisation of all elements to this initiative.

Research Partners

Logo of Vrije Universiteit Brussel, featuring the acronym "VUB" in white letters on a blue square, with "Vrije Universiteit Brussel" written to the right in blue text.
The image shows the KU Leuven logo with white text on a dark blue rectangular background and a light blue border on the top and left sides.

Dissemination Partners

Logo of the Belgian Association for the Study of Obesity (BASO), with the letter "O" depicted as a yellow circular brushstroke.
Logo of Obesity Platform Belgium featuring a blue and green abstract circular design next to the text "OPB Obesity Platform Belgium" on a white background.