ECO 2009 - The 17th European Congress on obesity

The 17th European Congress on Obesity (ECO) will take place at the RAI Exhibition and Congress Centre in Amsterdam, the Netherlands from Wednesday 6 May to Saturday 9 May 2009. Excess body weight is a major risk factor for several chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer, making obesity one of the leading preventable causes of death worldwide. With global rates in adults and children on the rise, the condition is considered one of the most significant public health challenges of the 21st century. ECO 2009 provides a unique European forum for presentations of exciting new research from scientists, clinicians, epidemiologists and public health specialists. About 2,500 scientists, doctors, nurses and public health policy experts are expected to attend. The European Association for the Study of Obesity welcomes the interest of the media in obesity issues and is happy to provide full assistance to journalists attending ECO 2009. A media centre with computing, fax, photocopying and free international phone and Internet connections will be available. English-speaking press officers will be on hand to assist you. NB: the official language of ECO 2009 is English and all press materials will be in English