World Diabetes Day: what EU policymakers need to know about total diet replacement
Posted On: 13th November 2024
TDMR Europe welcomes World Diabetes Day (WDD) 2024. Launched in 1991 by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and becoming an official United Nations Day in 2006, WDD is the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign, taking place annually on 14th November. This year’s WDD theme is “Diabetes and well-being” stressing that “with appropriate access to diabetes care and support for their well-being, everyone with diabetes has the chance to live well”.
According to WHO, diabetes is one of the most common chronic conditions in the WHO European Region. In fact, it is estimated that 1 in 10 people living in the Region will have diabetes by 2045. Data from the European Commission show that over 33 million people in the EU suffer from diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accounts for more than 90% of all cases of diabetes.
The Commission has stressed that overweight and obesity are among the major risk factors for diabetes and notes that prevention and early and appropriate interventions are indispensable measures to reduce the prevalence and complications of diabetes. According to the Commission, over €1,25 billion have been devoted to support research and innovation on diabetes and related factors, including obesity.
Last month, a manifesto launched by TDMR Europe for the EU’s term 2024 – 2029 emphasises that current obesity policies in Europe place the focus primarily on prevention through healthy eating and exercise, with little consideration towards those who already have obesity or overweight and who are struggling to manage their weight. Moreover, despite EU policy makers’ interest in addressing diabetes and obesity based on relevant research, scientific evidence showing the effectiveness of total diet replacement (TDR) has been overlooked.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the channel, the English National Health Service (NHS) is running a successful diet programme with TDR helping thousands of people with obesity and T2DM lose weight and improve their health. The type 2 diabetes pathway to remission programme, formerly known as the ‘soups and shakes diet’, was based on the DROPLET and DiRECT trials. These ground-breaking studies have shown that not only is weight loss with TDR an efficient measure to tackle obesity, prevent and improve T2DM but also using this product is a cost-effective way to address these conditions. Research from Imperial College London on the pilots of the NHS TDR programme and a study from the Leeds Beckett University evaluating the qualitative aspects of the ‘soups and shakes diet’ support the conclusions of the DROPLET and DiRECT trials and demonstrate the effectiveness of TDR in primary care.
As the EU has entered a new policy cycle – following the European elections and with a new European Commission expected to be fully operational in the following weeks – it is crucial to raise awareness of the ever-increasing obesity and T2DM rates and the need to address these challenges, considering all options available, including formula diet products. Businesses in the sector need to work together to ensure these issues will be on the new policy makers’ agenda for the next five years. As the voice of the industry, following the launch of its manifesto, TDMR Europe will be implementing targeted public affairs campaigns and will be working closely with decision makers in Europe. Slimming food businesses interested in finding out more can get in touch at secretariat@tdmr-europe.com
More information on TDMR Europe can be found here.
You can find out more about the latest research on TDR here and here.
Watch our educational webinars here
Aris Myriskos
TDMR Europe Secretariat
Press and Media Relations Office