The general objective of this collaborative project (EPIC PANACEA) is to identify and describe the determinants of weight and weight changes and to develop specific recommendations and guidelines for the prevention of Obesity in Europe.
The specific objectives of the EPIC PANACEA project are to:
1) Describe cross-sectionaly, for men and women, in three age groups, for (Northern, Central, and Southern) European regions, the association between current weight and:
a) Physical Activity
b) Nutritional habits
c) Cessation of Smoking
d) Alcohol drinking and
e) Meals eating out of home.
2) Study, using follow-up data, the determinants of stable weight and weight changes in relation to all of the above;
3) Study the interrelations between the determinants of obesity and assess the quantitative contribution of each of them specifically.

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In accordance with the subsidiarity principle, it is the responsibility of each Member State to implement its own health policy, but there are areas where Member States can not act alone effectively (i.e. reducing marketing pressure on children) or where Members States can learn a lot from each other.

Thus, the overall aim of the Conference is to support Member States and stakeholders to work more efficiently in addressing the burden of NCDs, using innovative cooperations and governance structures. The conference, by bringing together leading European stakeholders with a common objective, will provide Member States and other stakeholders with a forum for sharing information, resources, best practise and expertise in primary prevention by addressing three of the key health determinants (nutrition, physical activity and tobacco control). The Conference should also help identifying common actions at EU level that can provide added-value to national efforts.

In addition, the Conference aims to reduce health inequalities existing between Member States by giving a particular attention to Central and Eastern European countries and new Member States.

Considering
- the diversity of national public health systems in the European Union;
- that the action plans of Member States are not widely disseminated;
- that public health indicators of new Member States and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries are similar to each other and far behind those of the EU-15

the specific objectives of the Conference are:
1. to present effective public health systems and sustainable action plans;
2. to identify and share best practices and know-how at EU, national and local levels;
3. to promote interdisciplinary cooperation and exchange of experiences between experts working in three different areas (nutrition, physical activity, tobacco control);
4. to provide an opportunity for new Member States and Central and Eastern European countries to present their activities.
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