“I admit that we are worsening with our results or our statistics and that, therefore, action is urgently needed. Not only in relation to health promotion and obesity prevention, but also treatment, which not only has a medicinal component but also a surgical component”, she highlighted.

Ana Paula Martins admitted that it is necessary to "do much more" than has been done so far.

“We believe that obesity is effectively a priority program and that a large part, not all, but a large part of what can be done, to minimise what is one of the biggest risk factors for chronic diseases, is in fact prevention", she claimed.

Experts advocate reimbursement for specific medications to treat obesity and, to improve access to consultations and treatments, call for an adaptation of incentive and contracting models in hospitals and health centres.

“Measures need to be taken. There is an entire integrated obesity care process that needs to be put into practice”, said Paula Freitas, remembering that access needs to be increased.