Scientific and professional meetings EASO (European Association for the Study of Obesity) Masterclass will be held in Zagreb: from December 7th to 10th, 2026 (adult obesity) and from March 2nd to 5th, 2027 (childhood obesity). The events are organized by EASO and the Croatian Society for Obesity of the Croatian Medical Association. Hosting these meetings represents a great honor and significance for the Republic of Croatia, especially due to the increasing prevalence of obesity in both the EU and Croatia. EASO is the largest professional and scientific association in Europe dealing with obesity, and the Masterclass is an educational program for young researchers, physicians, and health professionals. Members of the core organizing committee include: Professor Volkan Demirhan Yumuk (University Medical School Ankara – current president of EASO), Professor Jennifer Baker (Frederiksberg Hospital Copenhagen – future president of EASO from 2027.), Professor Davor Štimac (President of the Croatian Society for Obesity, Director of Medico Special Hospital), Professor Sanja Musić Milanović (Head of the Department for Physical Health Promotion, Croatian Institute of Public Health), Professor Dario Rahelić (Head of the University Clinic for Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases Vuk Vrhovec), and Assoc. Professor Saša Missoni (Institute for Anthropological Research).
The goal of organizing this extremely important meeting is to provide education on obesity prevention and to encourage further research. It is important to note that staff members of the Institute: Assoc. Professor Saša Missoni, Asst. Professor Natalija Novokmet and Dr. Jelena Šarac also participated in the development of the currently valid National Strategy for Obesity Prevention in Croatia at the Ministry of Health, under the leadership of Professor Sanja Musić Milanović.
Photo caption:
Discussions on cooperation with EASO and the organization of the meetings in Croatia (in the photo: Prof. Dr. Sanja Musić Milanović, Prof. Dr. Volkan Demirhan Yumuk, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dario Rahelić, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saša Missoni, Prof. Dr. Davor Štimac, Prof. Dr. Jennifer Baker). Great satisfaction and support for stronger involvement of Croatian scientists in the work of EASO was expressed by the current and future leadership of EASO.
