The Italian delegation of the ECR group in the European Parliament questions the Commission on cardiovascular health and nutrition

To combat obesity, we must promote the Mediterranean diet and limit ultra-processed foods..

MEP Carlo Ciccioli, in coordination with the head of the Fratelli d'Italia delegation (the party of the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni) in the European Parliament, Carlo Fidanza, together with his colleagues from the Committee on Public Health, MEPs Ruggero Razza and Michele Picaro, submitted a written question to the European Commission in order to find out what concrete measures are already planned within the framework of the European “Safe Hearts” plan to combat obesity, in particular childhood obesity, and to promote the Mediterranean diet as a pillar of the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

The parliamentary question draws attention to the rise in obesity in Europe, recognized as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and many other chronic illnesses. It calls on the Commission to implement effective measures for prevention, nutritional education, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.

"This initiative confirms the commitment of the Fratelli d'Italia delegation and its representatives within the Public Health Committee to ensure that the European Union strengthens its prevention policies by making the Mediterranean diet the reference dietary model for protecting the health of European citizens," the statement concludes.

In Brussels, the debate on how to take action against what is increasingly considered the main cause of obesity on the Old Continent is intensifying: the consumption of ultra-processed foods.

According to a consensus statement published in 2026 by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), high consumption of ultra-processed foods is strongly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Adults with the highest consumption of ultra-processed foods have up to a 19% increased risk of coronary heart disease, a 13% increased risk of atrial fibrillation, and up to a 65% increased risk of death from cardiovascular causes compared to those whose diet consists of healthier, minimally processed foods.

According to experts, the Mediterranean diet, free of ultra-processed foods, is the best solution to this problem. That is why it is now necessary to align European Union regulations, taxation, and awareness policies to promote diets and measures whose effectiveness is supported by scientific data.