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

Authors

• Katharina C Wirnitzer, Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Otto-Heubner Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine (OHC), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
• Mohamad Motevalli, University College of Teacher Education Tyrol
• Derrick R Tanous, University College of Teacher Education Tyrol
• Clemens Drenowatz, University of Education Upper Austria
• Maximilian Moser, Medical University of Graz
• Holger Cramer, University Hospital Tübingen
• Thomas Rosemann, University of Zurich
• Karl-Heinz Wagner, University of Vienna
• Andreas Michalsen, Institute of Social Medicine
• Beat Knechtle, University of Zurich
• Zlatko Fras, University Medical Centre Ljubljana
• Adilson Marques, CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
• Nataša Fidler Mis, Independent Researcher, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
• Fatima C Stanford, Harvard Medical School
• Christian Schubert, Innsbruck Medical University
• Nandu Goswami, Medical University of Graz
• Claus Leitzmann, Justus Liebig University Giessen
• Per Morten Fredriksen, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences
• Gerhard Ruedl, Leopold-Franzens University of Innsbruck
• Rodrigo A Lima, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, IRSJD, CIBERSAM, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
• Christian Kessler, Immanuel Hospital Berlin
• Michael Jeitler, University Hospital Tübingen
• Naim A Khan, Faculté des Sciences de la Vie, Physiologie de la Nutrition & Toxicologie (NUTox), UMR 1231 INSERM/UB/AgroSup, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France.
• Hassan Joulaei, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
• Maryam Fatemi, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
• Karl W Kratky, University of Vienna
• Kara K Palmer, University of Michigan, Dearborn
• Bernd Haditsch, Preventive Medical Examination and Screening Centre, Austrian Health Insurance Fund ÖGK - Österreichische Gesundheitskasse, Graz, Austria.
• Boštjan Jakše, Independent Consultant, Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.
• Walter Kofler, I.M. Sechenov Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)

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.

DOI Link

10.3389/fpubh.2026.1695757

Publication Date

2026-03-20

Publication Title

Frontiers in Public Health

Volume

14

Acceptance Date

2026-01-31

Deposit Date

2026-04-20

Keywords

Humans, Consensus, Health Policy, Global Health, Diet, Healthy, Health Priorities, Health Promotion, Research

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

First Page

1695757

Last Page

1695757

Recommended Citation

Wirnitzer, K., Motevalli, M., Tanous, D., Drenowatz, C., Moser, M., Cramer, H., Rosemann, T., Wagner, K., Michalsen, A., Knechtle, B., Fras, Z., Marques, A., Fidler Mis, N., Stanford, F., Schubert, C., Goswami, N., Leitzmann, C., Fredriksen, P., Ruedl, G., Lima, R., Kessler, C., Jeitler, M., Khan, N., Joulaei, H., Fatemi, M., Kratky, K., Palmer, K., Haditsch, B., Jakše, B., & Kofler, W. (2026) 'Conquering today's health paradox with the power of HEAL - an expert consensus report plus research priorities and policymaker roadmap', Frontiers in Public Health, 14, pp. 1695757-1695757. Available at: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1695757