From 20 to 22 January, a three‑day twinning programme was carried out to strengthen cooperation between medical centres across Belgium, Croatia, Lithuania and Italy, with a focus on non‑communicable disease (NCD) prevention and nutrition. The initiative aimed to promote peer‑to‑peer learning, exchange best practices and support longer‑term collaboration between national health institutions.
The Department of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery of the Galeazzi – Sant’Ambrogio Hospital in Milan, whose National Institute for the Treatment of Obesity (INCO) is recognised for its integrated, multidisciplinary approach to obesity and metabolic disorders, was chosen to host the programme.
One medical professional from each country took part in the training. The programme offered an immersive introduction to the clinical, nutritional, and psychological aspects of obesity care.
On the first day, participants learned about the philosophy and organisation of the Obesity Centre and observed how the multidisciplinary team works together. The second day focused on obesity as a metabolic disease, covering its clinical and genetic components and showing how medical, psychological and social factors interact in patient care. The final day encouraged participants to share perspectives from their own countries and compare different national and cultural approaches.
At the end of the programme, participants prepared reports with recommendations that will support future work on public health guidelines and policy development.
