Conquering today’s health paradox with the power of HEAL – an expert consensus report plus research priorities and policymaker roadmap

Background Despite growing scientific evidence and health guidelines, the global health paradox persists, with rising lifestyle-related diseases and escalating healthcare costs exposing the inadequacy of current efforts. Objective Three multidisciplinary congresses were held to generate evidence-based conclusions aimed at addressing the global health paradox. Methods A total of 58 experts from 62 entities participated in the international research and knowledge-exchange panels. Experts reviewed the latest findings to develop practical strategies and identify key research and policy priorities, focusing on the Healthy Eating & Active Living (HEAL) approach. Results, conclusion, and relevance The expert consortium endorsed a 33 evidence-based consensual-statement policy roadmap for addressing global health challenges, emphasizing that the HEAL approach can significantly contribute to the “Prevention First” appeal and broad ethical, social, ecological, and economic advantages, and ultimately supporting policy change.

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Journal
Frontiers in Public Health
Published
2026-03-20
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1695757
Primary Topic
Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology
Type
article
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article

Conquering today’s health paradox with the power of HEAL – an expert consensus report plus research priorities and policymaker roadmap

Patrizia Tortella, Kathya Cordova-Pozo, Katharina Wirnitzer, Walter Kofler et al.
Frontiers in Public Health
Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology
article

Conquering today’s health paradox with the power of HEAL – an expert consensus report plus research priorities and policymaker roadmap

Patrizia Tortella, Kathya Cordova-Pozo, Katharina Wirnitzer, Walter Kofler, Manuel Schätzer, A. Paul Michalsen, Gregory E. Peoples, C. Duftner, Anupama Krishnan, Bernd Haditsch, Kathelijne Bessems, Gerhard Ruedl, Raúl Bescós, Karl W. Kratky, Lukas Gatterer, Gonza Ngoumou, Fabian Kriwan, Per Morten Fredriksen, M. Moser, Werner Kirschner, Boštjan Jakše, Holger Cramer, Kara K. Palmer, Amir Rashidlamir, Éva Perpék, Georg Seifert, Heidi Lynch, Maryam Fatemi, Rodrigo Antunes Lima, Hassan Joulaei, Naim Akhtar Khan, Thomas Johannes Rosemann, M. Jeitler, Christian Schubert, Claus Leitzmann, Shahnaz Fathima, Bhaswati Bhattacharya, Simon Straub, Shalaka Nandgaonkar, Mittal Abhishek, Abiola O. Adedara, Michael Klaper, Christian S. Kessler, Nandu Goswami, Mohamad Motevalli, Karl-Heinz Wagner, Nataša Fidler Mis, Zlatko Fras, Tomas Pfeiffer, Fatima C. Stanford, Peter Jones, Hemant Nandgaonkar, Josep M. Haro, Adilson Marques, Beat Knechtle, Derrick R. Tanous, Clemens Drenowatz, Madan Thangavelu
article en

Abstract

Background Despite growing scientific evidence and health guidelines, the global health paradox persists, with rising lifestyle-related diseases and escalating healthcare costs exposing the inadequacy of current efforts. Objective Three multidisciplinary congresses were held to generate evidence-based conclusions aimed at addressing the global health paradox. Methods A total of 58 experts from 62 entities participated in the international research and knowledge-exchange panels. Experts reviewed the latest findings to develop practical strategies and identify key research and policy priorities, focusing on the Healthy Eating & Active Living (HEAL) approach. Results, conclusion, and relevance The expert consortium endorsed a 33 evidence-based consensual-statement policy roadmap for addressing global health challenges, emphasizing that the HEAL approach can significantly contribute to the “Prevention First” appeal and broad ethical, social, ecological, and economic advantages, and ultimately supporting policy change.

Frontiers in Public HealthVol. 14
University of Vienna (AT), University of Lisbon (PT), Innsbruck Medical University (AT), Radboud University Nijmegen (NL), University of Ljubljana (SI), Union University (US), Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GB), Université de Bourgogne (FR), Sechenov University (RU), University of Augsburg (DE), Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital (IN), Universität Innsbruck (AT), King Edward Memorial Hospital and Seth G.S. Medical College (IN), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (IR), Østfold University of Applied Sciences (NO), Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (DE), Medical University of Graz (AT), University of Zurich (CH), University of Wollongong (AU), Cornell University (US), Università degli Studi di Enna Kore (IT), University of Michigan (US), Ljubljana University Medical Centre (SI), University Hospital Augsburg (DE), Radboud University Medical Center (NL), Maastricht University (NL), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE), Institute of Human Sciences (AT), University College of Teacher Education Tyrol (AT), Massachusetts General Hospital (US), Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo (BR), Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Age Research (AT), Research Institute of Therapy and Preventive Medicine (RU), Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (AE), Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (NL), Human BioMolecular Research Institute (US), Hungarian University of Sports Science (HU), Universitätsklinikum St. Pölten (AT), University of Inland Norway (NO), Medbase (CH), Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier Ayurveda College (IN), Human Services Research Institute (US), Tirol Kliniken (AT), Gesundheit Österreich (AT), Material Concepts (United States) (US), FZU ‒ Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (CZ), Institute of Human Virology (NG), Ministry of AYUSH (IN), Amity University (AE), Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu (ES), College of Medicine & JNM Hospital (IN), Centre for Social Sciences (HU), Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene (DE), Campo Arqueologico de Mertola (PT), Ayush & Health Sciences University Chhattisgarh (IN), Zentrum für Kinderheilkunde (DE), Universitätsklinik für Kinder und Jugendpsychiatrie (AT), Immanuel Krankenhaus (DE), Robert Bosch (Netherlands) (NL), University Hospital Innsbruck (AT), Bosch Health Campus, Nutrition International (CA), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin (DE), University of Tübingen (DE), Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (IR), University of Plymouth (GB), Arturo Prat University (CL), Point Loma Nazarene University (US)
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Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology
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