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 3

A right to access toearly diagnosis and screeningfor obesity in its own right

People Living with Obesity in Belgium call for a roadmap to be set in place to allow the development and integration into the system for obesity screening programmes with related guidelines for health professionals and education for patients so that we understand the signs and symptoms to look out for at the early stages of the onset of obesity or if there is already a family history. This will enable patients to be full partners in our health.

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

Within this context

Provision should be made by the health system (and related reimbursement authorities and insurers) for:

  • A full set of diagnostic tools for the early diagnosis and screening of the biology of obesity in its own right and not only when faced with the onset of medical complications. These tools would address the biology of obesity and not wait until there is the outward sign of increased BMI.
  • A section on the diagnostic and medical testing prescription scripts for biological markers for obesity such as elevated triglycerides, insulin resistance etc, with related reimbursement as is currently the case for Type 2 diabetes.
  • Monitoring of data concerning patients living with obesity should be improved to enable better tracking of unmet needs of patients living with obesity and to provide solutions for them
Chapter 2
Chapter 4
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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.