Developing an action plan for obesity education.

Obesity education has long been neglected. Medical training continues to devote little time to education on obesity and its comorbidities, and practising physicians often feel ill equipped and poorly supported when dealing with overweight and obese patients. A European action plan for obesity education is required, to act at all levels--government, education providers and trainers, media, health professionals and patients-to improve understanding of obesity as a chronic but manageable medical condition.