15/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - At the opening of the pan-European summit on obesity, held in Istanbul from 15 to 17 November, a group of NGOs (EPHA, BEUC, Consumers International, EASO, ECOG, European Heart Network, Federation of European Cancer Societies, FENS, IBFAN, IASO, International Diabetes Federation, International Obesity Task Force, ISCA, Royal College of Physicians of London ) made a pressing appeal for governments to step up the fight against obesity and overweight. European Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou and the ministers of 53 countries of the WHO European region must adopt a European Charter to combat obesity. It is generally estimated that 150 million persons will be overweight in Europe in 2010. (oj)