There is much to be gained from investing in better health in an increasingly integrated Europe. Yet the alarming increase in obesity prevalence represents a major threat to the future health of the citizens of Europe, justifying the high priority that obesity and its main determinants - inadequate nutrition and physical activity - have been given in EU health policies and action programmes. There is still much to be done, in terms of co-ordination of scientific, regulatory and policy issues, and in the provision of enhanced information. This project brings together a multi-disciplinary team spanning a variety of key disciplines including as nutrition and physical activity research, public health, epidemiology, economics, and health policy, and covering all of Europe. Importantly, this team builds on established, successful, collaborative relationships. The project will work at two levels: overviews of issues across Europe; in-depth examination of sub-regional needs. The overviews will look at: lifestyle and environmental risk factors for obesity; previous, current, and planned policies to address obesity.