Digital campaign against obesity developed by UC project wins European award
The campaign "Health Unlocked: From Small Steps to Real Changes" won the Social Media Engagement Award for its role in raising awareness of and tackling obesity.
The campaign “HEALTH UNLOCKED: Small Steps, Big Changes” – developed by the research project PAS GRAS: Reducing Metabolic Risks, Environmental and Behavioural Determinants of Obesity in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults, led by the University of Coimbra (UC) – has been honoured at the 2025 European World Obesity Day Awards.
Specifically, the campaign received the Social Media Engagement Award, in the category of Best Social Media Engagement, for its contribution to raising awareness and combating obesity.
Launched on World Obesity Day 2025, the campaign stood out for its educational videos and social media content covering topics such as nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress, and the environment. Seven videos – available on YouTube and Instagram – were produced in eight languages. They were created as part of a Master’s dissertation in Design and Multimedia at the UC Faculty of Sciences and Technology, in collaboration with PAS GRAS researchers.
PAS GRAS also received a second recognition at the 2025 European World Obesity Day Awards through OBEClust – the European Obesity Research Project Cluster, of which PAS GRAS is a member. OBEClust was awarded the Best Collaborative Project Award, in recognition of the joint work of nine European projects in obesity prevention and management.
The European World Obesity Day Awards are presented annually by the European Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ECPO) and the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), recognising initiatives developed across Europe in the context of this awareness day. More information on the awards is available here.
This year, PAS GRAS researchers will mark World Obesity Day by taking the awareness campaign to regional and national media outlets in several countries by publishing opinion articles throughout March.
A survey is also underway to better understand the lifestyle, health, and well-being habits of young higher education students - available here.
The PAS GRAS project aims to advance scientific understanding of the biological, behavioural, and environmental factors behind obesity from early life stages and to promote lifelong health through innovative approaches.