Organisers

About BalNeSO

The Balkan Network for the Study of Obesity (BalNeSO) is a non-governmental, non-profit scientific association founded in 2005, in Athens, by the representatives of seven national associations for obesity from Bulgaria, Greece, Israel, Romania, Turkey, Serbia and Cyprus. The initiative for the formation of such a Network had been taken by the Hellenic Medical Association for Obesity in 2002 and, in 2005, the expansion of the Network and the enlargement of its goals and perspectives were decided.

The aims of BalNeSO are:

• To encourage and support activities related to research on the prevention and treatment of obesity.
• To facilitate communication between members of the Balkan countries on related issues.
• To organise the Balkan Congress on Obesity.
• To promote the study of obesity in the interbalkan field through the scientific cooperation of scientific associations, institutions, universities and other bodies.
• To promote research and teaching in all levels of education in the area of obesity.
• To promote the establishment of related Institutes and Research Scientific Centres.
• To contribute to the general scientific knowledge, education and progress in the area of obesity of the member Balkan countries.
• To promote peace and friendship among the people of the Balkan countries.

Up to now, BalNeSO have organised two congresses: the 1st Balkan Congress on Obesity (BCO) was held in Athens, Greece in 2003, in collaboration with the Hellenic Medical Association for Obesity and the 2nd BCO was held in Albena, Bulgaria, in May 2006, in collaboration with the Bulgarian Association for the Study of Obesity. The 3rd BCO will take place in Thessaloniki, Greece on 16th - 19th October 2008.

The Administrative Committee of the Balkan Network for the Study of Obesity for the triennium 2006-2008 stand as follows:

Should any national association of the Balkan Peninsula and of the Middle East is interested in joining the Network, please contact the BalNeSO Secretariat.

About HMAO

The Hellenic Medical Association for Obesity (HMAO) is a non-governmental scientific association, operating on a non-profit basis in Athens, Greece. Founded in 1990, it ranks up to 1.050 active members from various areas of professional expertise, such as physicians and dietitians, and the Greek general public.

According to its Memorandum, HMAO aims to promote "the scientific research and study of obesity and the metabolic diseases in Greece" as well as "the scientific research in the field of healthy nutrition of the contemporary individual".

HMAO is a member of the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) and of the International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO), as well as one of the founding members of the Balkan Network for the Study of Obesity (BalNeSO).