Category: Action4Obesity

2025 – Moving Forward with Vision

The Kapa3 Annual Review 2025 reflects a year of determination and vision, as Kapa3 strengthened its impact through initiatives and collaborations focused on holistic cancer care.During the first half of the year alone, we managed more than 400 individual requests, with support for the process of Disability Certification standing out as a key service—confirming that personalized, hands-on support remains at the core of our mission.

A milestone moment in 2025 was Kapa3’s participation, alongside 13 European partners, in the EU4Health programme MELODIC, which focuses on improving mental health support for young adult cancer patients (18–39 years old). Through research mapping the training needs of healthcare professionals, the project highlights the urgent need for better detection and management of psychological distress among young patients—many of whom still lack access to adequate psychosocial care.

MELODIC promotes innovative wellbeing interventions, such as physical activity in green and blue spaces combined with psychosocial support, emphasizing the healing power of nature and community in mental health recovery. As an active partner, Kapa3 works to ensure that these actions reach patients directly, fostering community engagement and equitable access to quality care.

At the same time, our participation in the second cycle of the SmartHEALTH programme, supported by CERTH, strengthened the digital integration of healthcare services and empowered patients through smart technologies, improving efficiency, accessibility, and transparency.

Our collaboration with FairLife within the BREATH programme for lung cancer patients highlighted the importance of holistic and interdisciplinary care. In parallel, our presence at conferences and scientific events—such as COST Action INECSC CA21125 and the 7th conference “Caregivers and Depression”—consistently brought attention to the needs of caregivers and the empowerment of patients.

At both national and international levels, Kapa3 presented its work at the Lazord International Conference, the Pan-Macedonian Scientific Nursing Conference, and the ESMO World Congress in Berlin. We also participated in major events such as the Patients Summit, Morning Health Talks by EIT Health, and the 18th Panhellenic Conference on Nutrition & Dietetics.

A particularly important moment was our action in the Municipality of Megara, where a new Cancer Patient Guidance and Counselling Station was established, offering direct and personalized support to patients and their families.

Prevention and awareness remain fundamental pillars of our work. Breast self-examination initiatives, participation in the Action4Obesity network, presence at the Thessaloniki Disability Festival, and the launch of new nutrition-related sections on our website all contribute to improving the quality of life of patients and caregivers—combining scientific guidance with lived experience.

Awards 2025

In 2025, Kapa3 received significant recognition for the digital platform Cancer Care Connect, winning a Gold Award at the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Awards, as well as the Gold Award for “NGO of the Year – Health and Social Care” at the Hellenic Responsible Business Awards 2025.
In addition, our collaboration with the University of Peloponnese received a Silver Award at the Healthcare Business Awards 2025 for the programme “Community co-design and implementation of holistic educational practices for nutrition and mental health.”

Every initiative, every partnership, and every participation brings us closer to our vision: holistic, human-centred care where the voices of patients and caregivers truly matter.

To explore our full journey from the foundation of Kapa3 through the end of 2025, you can view our comprehensive activity report here.

The Kapa3 Annual Review 2025 reaffirms our commitment to holistic, human-centred care, where the voices of patients and caregivers truly matter.

As we step into the new year, we move forward with enthusiasm, commitment, and optimism—to continue supporting patients and caregivers, investing in innovation and education, and strengthening care and participation across all our actions.

We wish everyone a year filled with health, strength, and inspiration.

The Kapa3 Team

Kapa3: Participation in the Alliance for Obesity Prevention and the Release of the First National Clinical Practice Guidelines in Greece

The National Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines mark a historic milestone for public health in Greece.

Kapa3, an active member of the Alliance for Obesity Prevention (#Action4Obesity), continues to consistently promote the message that prevention, education, and support are vital for the health of all citizens. As part of our participation, we were delighted to contribute to the workshop of the Panhellenic Association for the Support of People with Obesity “Imeroesa” on “Obesity and Cancer – From Theory to Practice”, a participation that highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange.

This participation was part of a broader collaboration that led to a historic milestone for the country: the release of the first National Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Obesity in Greece. At the press conference held on Tuesday, November 25, the completion of these guidelines was announced, marking a landmark achievement for Greece.

The National Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Obesity establish, for the first time, a unified, scientifically evidence-based framework for the prevention, assessment, and therapeutic management of obesity, clearly recognizing it as a chronic disease. This is a project of great significance for society, citizens, and the healthcare system, as it provides critical guidance for addressing a condition that affects a large proportion of the population.

The development of the guidelines took 20 months and involved over 50 experts from 20 different specialties. The project includes 21 chapters, available on the Alliance for Obesity Prevention website, covering the full spectrum of prevention, management, and treatment of the condition. The guidelines provide data on the prevalence of obesity in Greece (almost 70% of the adult population overweight or obese) and internationally, as well as on the impact on healthcare costs, productivity, and mortality.

Alongside the scientific and clinical aspects, the new guidelines highlight the need for social awareness. Obesity is not a matter of personal weakness; individuals living with excess weight often face stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion, affecting their mental health, access to care, and quality of life. The adoption of the National Clinical Practice Guidelines signals not only the recognition of obesity as a disease, but also a clear commitment to respect, equal treatment, and the elimination of all forms of weight-based stigma, promoting a society that is more informed, fair, and supportive for all.

The Alliance for Obesity Prevention now emerges as a key actor in public health, while the active participation of Kapa3 reaffirms our commitment to inform, raise awareness, and support patients, reinforcing the shared vision of a society that values health, prevention, and timely intervention.

Text/adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3