2025 in review: The Finnish Association for the Study of Obesity (FASO)
Report written by Johanna Matilainen
Highlights from The Finnish Association for the Study of Obesity (FASO) in 2025
The year 2025 has been a dynamic and inspiring period for FASO. We strengthened our role as a leading advocate for obesity research in Finland by hosting timely scientific events, deepening collaborations across borders, and amplifying the voices of individuals living with obesity.
Spring Seminar on Circadian Rhythms and Obesity, a strong start to 2025
The year began with a highlight, our Spring Seminar on Circadian Rhythms and Obesity: A Timely Approach to Health on 3rd April 2025 in Helsinki and online, co-organized with the Folkhälsan Research Center. The event brought together leading experts to discuss the intricate relationship between circadian rhythms and obesity.
The seminar gathered 110 participants and featured outstanding keynote lectures by Research Professor Timo Partonen (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, THL), Professor Rocío Barragán Arnal (University of Valencia, CIBER OBN Instituto Carlos III), and Associate Professor Marie-Pierre St-Onge (Columbia University).
Participants praised the seminar for its well-organized structure and timely topics, which reinforced its relevance in the field.
Advocacy and Partnerships
FASO remained active in amplifying the voices of individuals living with obesity in Finland. In 2025, we invited Ulla Brandt, chairperson of LiLe ry (the Finnish society for patients who have undergone bariatric surgery), to join our board meetings and help us explore how we can better integrate the patient perspective into our activities. Together, we discussed the importance of advocating for all patient groups in Finland, not just bariatric surgery patients. As a result, LiLe has begun planning to expand its activities, with FASO providing all the required consultation and support. Furthermore, in both FASO meetings in 2025, we had presentations from people living with obesity, bringing an important patient perspective to our events.
The establishment of the Nordic Obesity Network (NON), a collaborative entity with the Nordic Associations for the Study of Obesity of Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland, is progressing rapidly. In Nordic Obesity Meeting 2024, the importance of having a Nordic, structured educational program on obesity for physicians was greatly acknowledged, after which building of the network was initiated. Emilia Huvinen, a member of our board, also serves on the NON steering committee, making her a key driving force in the development of the network. NON acts as an independent entity but has been formally formed under FASO, which oversees NON’s activities.
FASO is also a collaborator in a podcast called Lihavuustutkijat (“Obesity researchers” in Finnish). The podcast aims to increase public understanding of obesity research from a multidisciplinary perspective and to reduce stigma surrounding obesity in Finland. It is being launched by PhD Juulia Lautaoja-Kivipelto, newly elected vice member of the FASO board, and PhD Johanna Matilainen, a current board member. The project is supported by the Fibrobesity Research Programme, funded by the Research Council of Finland. Technical resources, including portable audio recorders, studio facilities in Oulu, and editing services are provided by the University of Oulu, while communication support comes from the University of Oulu, the University of Eastern Finland, and the University of Helsinki. FASO endorses the project by suggesting the people being interviewed in the podcast, and by advertising the podcast.
FibroHealth symposium 2025, successful collaboration with several new organizations
Our year 2025 culminated in the FibroHealth 2025 symposium on November 19 in Oulu. The symposium has been FASO’s long-lasting collaboration with the University of Oulu Fibrobesity Research Programme, but this year the organizers also included the Finnish Society for Cell Biology and the Finnish Bone Society.
Our event gathered 149 participants to explore how cell biology can be translated into obesity research and drug development, with a special focus on adipose tissue, bone, and metabolism. The symposium attracted 16 posters and seven sponsor booths, creating a vibrant and engaging atmosphere. Keynote speakers included Associate Professor Sara Hägg from Karolinska Institute, Sweden, and Dr. Jeroen Geurts from Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland.
