The first national meeting of Spanish EASO COMs and Obesity Units accredited by SEEDO was held on June 2nd and 3rd in Sitges, Spain. The event was jointly organized by the Spanish Society for the Study of Obesity (SEEDO) and the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) and brought together representatives from 13 Spanish EASO COMs and SEEDO-accredited Obesity Units.
The meeting, which was titled “SEED-Oz,” took inspiration from the Wizard of Oz. The green brick road metaphorically represented our diverse paths converging toward a shared goal: enhancing our understanding and approach to obesity. The choice of green bricks symbolises SEEDO’s official colour.
Each centre was invited not only to present their work but also to share a metaphorical object that symbolized their institution. On the first day, EASO representatives Jason Halford, Volkan Yumuk, and Euan Woodward introduced EASO and EASO-COMs initiative. The following day, SEEDO president Mar Malagon explained the SEEDO accreditation system, which also includes physical activity centers for obesity management. We also heard a patient perspective.
This collegial event concluded with a brainstorming session designed to generate ideas for future national projects aimed at improving obesity management. These ideas will be further developed and presented at future annual EASO COMs and SEEDO-U meetings.
The relaxed environment and family-like atmosphere of the event encouraged active participation, creativity, and positivity among all attendees. To foster out-of-the-box thinking, the meeting kicked off with a collective rendition of the song “Heal the World.” This unconventional approach contributed to the event’s overall sense of camaraderie and creative positivity.