How Holistic Wellness Shapes a Healthier World
On April 15th, International Wellness Day reminds us that health goes far beyond the absence of disease. It reflects a balance of physical, mental, cultural, and environmental well-being – and calls for concrete, coordinated actions to strengthen education, expand opportunities for movement, and build resilience. A System Under Strain According to UNICEF (2024), 35 million […]
Shaping the Debate on California Food Policy
Competere has submitted a position letter to the California State Assembly’s Health Committee on the proposed Assembly Bill (AB) No. 2244, introducing the “California Certified” food standard. While welcoming the attention to public health, our contribution highlights key scientific and policy concerns at the core of the proposal. It emphasises the need for policies grounded […]
Obesity: Rethinking Policy From Plate to Movement
Leggi l’articolo in italiano As screens replace playgrounds and desks replace parks, physical activity declines – and obesity rises. Yet, public health policies continue to focus predominantly on food, labels, and restrictions, overlooking one of the most powerful drivers of weight gain: inactivity. Rebalancing obesity policy requires placing physical activity and sports at the center […]
The Obesity Debate Is Missing the Elephant in the Room: Screen Time
Leggi l’articolo in italiano EU Reporter has published an op-ed by Pietro Paganini exploring an often overlooked factor in the obesity debate: the growing role of digital lifestyles and social media. Read the full article on EU Reporter or find a summary below. Over the past decades, lifestyles have changed profoundly. Free time has increasingly […]
The Mediterranean Diet… is a Truth
Leggi l’articolo in Italiano Politico EU has published an article about Mediterranean Diet conveying a surprising perspective. It states that Mediterranean diet is a “lie,” attributing it to unfounded beliefs, lobbying, and Italian gastronomic nationalism. However, these claims are flawed by logical biases and fail to consider solid scientific evidence of its positive impact on […]
The False War on Processed Food: Why It Endangers Public Health
HuffPost Italy has just published a commentary by Pietro Paganini on a growing and dangerous trend: blaming so-called ultra-processed foods (UPFs) for obesity and chronic disease. In the piece, Paganini explains why this narrative is misleading, unscientific, and ultimately harmful to public health. Read the full article in Italian on HuffPost, or find the English […]
The Social Intelligence of Eating: Policy Approaches to Community-Based Nutrition
Leggi l’articolo in italiano Nutrition policy asks what people should eat. Science increasingly shows we’ve missed an equally critical variable: with whom. THE BIOLOGY OF EATING TOGETHER Communal meals trigger measurable neurobiological responses — endorphin and oxytocin release associated with bonding and wellbeing. These translate into hard metrics: children sharing three or more family meals […]
From Prescriptive Food Labels to Precision Nutrition. The Consumer Perspective
Leggi l’articolo in italiano The application of emerging sciences, combined with consumer-based digital technologies, is paving the way for precision nutrition.No longer regulatory and prescriptive labels, but informed choices guided by personalised information and an intelligent digital ecosystem. THE BIG PICTURE The ‘Farm to Fork’ Strategy urged to the adoption of a European Food Label […]
The Science is Clear. Without Livestock, Europe is Weaker
Leggi l’articolo in italiano In the European debate on food systems, a growingly rigid idea is taking hold: cutting the consumption of animal-based products by half in order to comply with the so-called Planetary Health Diet. The intention may appear noble, but when we look at it with critical thinking, a different picture emerges. Such […]
Beyond Bans: Why Science Reinforces Responsible Drinking
Leggi l’articolo in Italiano In recent years, alcohol has seemingly been getting more and more villainized. Across Europe, we’re seeing stricter proposals for regulations that include graphic labels, advertising bans, and higher taxes, with the goals of seeing alcohol treated like tobacco. Yet the more recent scientific evidence paints a more encouraging picture: Moderation is […]