The Medical University of Lodz is launching the project “ObeTech: Digital skills for obesity care” – an initiative combining medical knowledge with the potential of artificial intelligence and digital technologies. The aim of the project is to combat obesity more effectively, which is one of the most serious health challenges facing Europe today. For our university, which has experience in implementing over 90 international projects, ObeTech is an excellent opportunity to strengthen its leading position in the field of HealthTech and modern prevention.

Why is ObeTech necessary?

In the face of alarming Eurostat data, according to which overweight and obesity already affect 53% of the European Union’s population, the ObeTech project is becoming a key response to contemporary civilisational challenges. This initiative is part of the Health 5.0 paradigm and aims to create synergy between advanced technologies and human well-being, as well as to remove barriers to access to specialist care, especially in rural areas. By responding to staff shortages and implementing modern tools, ObeTech not only supports the healthcare system, but above all shapes new standards for the prevention and treatment of obesity in the age of digitalisation.

The main objective of the project is to equip medical personnel, including doctors and dieticians, with specific future skills, including the use of wearables such as smart watches and fitness bands, and the use of artificial intelligence in diagnostics. The initiative will create a modular vocational education and training (VET) programme, a verified digital competence framework and an educational platform offering a micro-credentials system. These activities will be complemented by the establishment of the ObeTech Alliance, a cross-sector cooperation network combining science, technology and medicine, which will enable more effective patient monitoring and a real strengthening of the role of digital solutions in medicine.

In the context of the European Union, the project supports initiatives such as the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and the Digital Education Action Plan, contributing to the development of a modern, crisis-resistant healthcare system.

International consortium:
The ObeTech project is being implemented by a consortium of academic, medical and technological partners from several European Union countries. The initiative is based on the exchange of experiences and best practices as well as interdisciplinary cooperation, which significantly increases its impact on the healthcare sector across Europe.
The project is the result of synergy between renowned institutions representing various fields:

• PCSS (Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Centre at the Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences) – IT technology leaders;
• Trade Union of Serbian Doctors and Pharmacists – the voice of medical practitioners from Serbia;
• PROMITHEAS (Greece) and CircEUlar (Malta) – experts in education and counselling.

Substantive supervision and coordination

The substantive course of the project is supervised by Prof. Anna Lipert, Head of the Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Prevention at the Medical University of Lodz. Professor Lipert is a recognised authority in the field of lifestyle medicine, physical activity and the prevention of lifestyle diseases. Her extensive scientific achievements, focusing on promoting healthy lifestyles and modern methods of combating obesity, guarantee the project a strong research foundation and a real impact on improving public health. Professor Lipert’s experience includes coordinating numerous projects under the Erasmus+ and Interreg programmes aimed at implementing innovations in healthcare. As an expert in health behaviour research and the development of the Living Labs concept, she successfully combines medical empathy with technological progress.

The project is supported by Professor Ewelina Gaszyńska, whose scientific and teaching experience in the field of clinical medicine and medical staff training significantly strengthens its educational component. Kinga Zel-Hans, MA, and Dr Magda Dolińska-Rydzek are responsible for efficient administrative implementation and operational coordination. Their experience in managing international projects and knowledge of Erasmus+ programme procedures guarantee effective cooperation within the consortium and timely implementation of all stages of the project.