Sanja Musić Milanović in Portorož: Three Years Later the Zagreb Declaration Changes European Policies of Childhood Obesity Prevention
The Spouse of the President of the Republic of Croatia Prof. Sanja Musić Milanović, MD, PhD participated in the Joint International Paediatric, School and Adolescent Medicine and Health Congress: “Stronger Together – For Better Health among Children, Adolescents and Young Adults” in Slovenia.
The congress, taking place in Portorož, gathered experts from across Europe and the globe in the field of child and youth health. Prof. Musić Milanović, MD, PhD participated in the plenary panel session “Soft path to Zagreb Declaration“ and a round table on the impact of the Zagreb Declaration together with Aleš Musar, MD, PhD, Spouse of the President of the Republic of Slovenia.
“Three years ago, the Zagreb Declaration laid the foundations for a coordinated action against childhood obesity across the European region. Today, in Portorož, we have the opportunity to present that this path was not a one-off event, but a continued process – from launching the “Network on the Prevention of Childhood Obesity”, followed by national action plan adoptions, to a wider political support,” said Prof. Musić Milanović, MD, PhD referring to the Zagreb Declaration which was adopted at the Summit of the Spouses of European Leaders, which was held in May 2023 and organised by the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia and the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
Prof. Musić Milanović MD, PhD recalled that, following the Zagreb Declaration, Croatia adopted a comprehensive Action Plan on Obesity Prevention for the period 2024-2027. She also announced that Croatia will host the EASO (European Association for the Study of Obesity) Masterclass Series “Childhood Obesity Masterclass Series” for young researchers, physicians and health professionals from all over Europe in Zagreb in March 2027.
“Slovenia is one of the best examples of how the recommendations of the Zagreb Declaration can be adapted to a national context, thanks to the dedicated work of experts brought together at the initiative of Doctor Aleš Musar. At the same time, we have seen that childhood obesity prevention is becoming a priority on the European Union level. Our common task is to turn political will into concrete and measurable policies,” emphasised the Spouse of the President of the Republic of Croatia.
Alongside Sanja Musić Milanović, MD, PhD, the round table on the impact of the Zagreb Declaration was also attended by Aleš Musar, MD, PhD, Spouse of the President of the Republic of Slovenia. The Congress in Portorož, which is taking place from 24 to 26 September 2026, has gathered hundreds of experts in the field of paediatrics, school and adolescent medicine from across Europe and the globe.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić