Conquering today's health paradox with the power of HEAL - an expert consensus report plus research priorities and policymaker roadmap

Katharina C Wirnitzer; Mohamad Motevalli; Derrick R Tanous; Clemens Drenowatz; Maximilian Moser; Holger Cramer; Thomas Rosemann; Karl-Heinz Wagner; Andreas Michalsen; Beat Knechtle; Zlatko Fras; Adilson Marques; Nataša Fidler Mis; Fatima C Stanford; Christian Schubert; Nandu Goswami; Claus Leitzmann; Per Morten Fredriksen; Gerhard Ruedl; Rodrigo A Lima; Christian Kessler; Michael Jeitler; Naim A Khan; Hassan Joulaei; Maryam Fatemi; Karl W Kratky; Kara K Palmer; Bernd Haditsch; Boštjan Jakše; Walter Kofler; Tomas Pfeiffer; Kathya L Cordova-Pozo; Patrizia Tortella; Simon Straub; Heidi Lynch; Manuel Schätzer; Anupama Krishnan; Shahnaz Fathima; Lukas Gatterer; Fabian Kriwan; Mittal Abhishek; Hemant Nandgaonkar; Shalaka Nandgaonkar; Abiola O Adedara; Josep M Haro; Amir Rashidlamir; Madan Thangavelu; Gonza Ngoumou; Éva Perpék; Michael Klaper; Bhaswati Bhattacharya; Werner Kirschner; Kathelijne M H H Bessems; Peter Jones; Gregory Peoples; Raul Bescos; Christina Duftner; Georg Seifert

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1695757

Conquering today's health paradox with the power of HEAL - an expert consensus report plus research priorities and policymaker roadmap

Katharina C Wirnitzer
, Mohamad Motevalli
, Derrick R Tanous
, Clemens Drenowatz
, Maximilian Moser
, Holger Cramer
, Thomas Rosemann
, Karl-Heinz Wagner
, Andreas Michalsen
, Beat Knechtle
, Zlatko Fras
, Adilson Marques
, Nataša Fidler Mis
, Fatima C Stanford
, Christian Schubert
, Nandu Goswami
, Claus Leitzmann
, Per Morten Fredriksen
, Gerhard Ruedl
, Rodrigo A Lima

Christian Kessler, Michael Jeitler, Naim A Khan, Hassan Joulaei, Maryam Fatemi, Karl W Kratky, Kara K Palmer, Bernd Haditsch, Boštjan Jakše, Walter Kofler, Tomas Pfeiffer, Kathya L Cordova-Pozo, Patrizia Tortella, Simon Straub, Heidi Lynch, Manuel Schätzer, Anupama Krishnan, Shahnaz Fathima, Lukas Gatterer, Fabian Kriwan, Mittal Abhishek, Hemant Nandgaonkar, Shalaka Nandgaonkar, Abiola O Adedara, Josep M Haro, Amir Rashidlamir, Madan Thangavelu, Gonza Ngoumou, Éva Perpék, Michael Klaper, Bhaswati Bhattacharya, Werner Kirschner, Kathelijne M H H Bessems, Peter Jones, Gregory Peoples, Raul Bescos, Christina Duftner, Georg Seifert

Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Otto-Heubner Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine (OHC), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Charité Competence Center for Traditional and Integrative Medicine (CCCTIM)
University College of Teacher Education Tyrol
Leopold-Franzens University of Innsbruck
University of Education Upper Austria
Medical University of Graz
Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements
University Hospital Tübingen
Robert Bosch Center for Integrative Medicine and Health
University of Zurich
University of Vienna
Institute of Social Medicine
Immanuel Hospital Berlin
Medbase St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
University Medical Centre Ljubljana
University of Ljubljana
CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Núcleo de Investigación en Ciencias del Movimiento, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile.
Independent Researcher, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Harvard Medical School
Innsbruck Medical University
Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Justus Liebig University Giessen
Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences
Østfold University College
Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, IRSJD, CIBERSAM, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
Augsburg University
Faculté des Sciences de la Vie, Physiologie de la Nutrition & Toxicologie (NUTox), UMR 1231 INSERM/UB/AgroSup, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France.
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
University of Michigan, Dearborn
Preventive Medical Examination and Screening Centre, Austrian Health Insurance Fund ÖGK - Österreichische Gesundheitskasse, Graz, Austria.
Independent Consultant, Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.
I.M. Sechenov Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
Institute for TCIM/CAM
Professional Chamber Sanator - the Union of Biotronicists of Josef Zezulka, Prague, Czechia.
Radboud University
Kore University of Enna
Department für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde, Pädiatrie I, Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie, Universitätskliniken Innsbruck, Tirol Kliniken, Innsbruck, Austria.
Point Loma Nazarene University
Special Institute for Preventive Cardiology and Nutrition (SIPCAN)
Kerala University of Health Sciences
University Hospital of St. Pölten
Amity University, Tashkent
Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital
Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS)
Occupational Therapy, Hands on Therapy Concepts Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India.
Institute of Human Virology Nigeria
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM)
Ayush Valley Foundation, Shoranur, Kerala, India.
University of Cambridge
Hungarian Academy of Sciences Centre of Excellence
Medical School Nutrition Education Initiative
Weill Cornell Medical College
Indic Academy
Maastricht University
University of Greater Manchester
University of Wollongong
Departamento de Pediatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Tratamento do Câncer Infantil (ITACI), Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite growing scientific evidence and health guidelines, the global health paradox persists, with rising lifestyle-related diseases and escalating healthcare costs exposing the inadequacy of current efforts.

OBJECTIVE: Three multidisciplinary congresses were held to generate evidence-based conclusions aimed at addressing the global health paradox.

METHODS: A total of 58 experts from 62 entities participated in the international research and knowledge-exchange panels. Experts reviewed the latest findings to develop practical strategies and identify key research and policy priorities, focusing on the Healthy Eating & Active Living (HEAL) approach.

RESULTS CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: The expert consortium endorsed a 33 evidence-based consensual-statement policy roadmap for addressing global health challenges, emphasizing that the HEAL approach can significantly contribute to the "Prevention First" appeal and broad ethical, social, ecological, and economic advantages, and ultimately supporting policy change.

Original language	English
Article number	1695757
Pages (from-to)	1695757
Number of pages	1
Journal	Frontiers in Public Health
Volume	14
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1695757
Publication status	Published - 20 Mar 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Humans
Consensus
Health Policy
Global Health
Diet, Healthy
Health Priorities
Health Promotion
Research

Access to Document

10.3389/fpubh.2026.1695757

fpubh-14-1695757Final published version, 2.02 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Wirnitzer, K. C., Motevalli, M., Tanous, D. R., Drenowatz, C., Moser, M., Cramer, H., Rosemann, T., Wagner, K.-H., Michalsen, A., Knechtle, B., Fras, Z., Marques, A., Fidler Mis, N., Stanford, F. C., Schubert, C., Goswami, N., Leitzmann, C., Fredriksen, P. M., Ruedl, G., ... Seifert, G. (2026). Conquering today's health paradox with the power of HEAL - an expert consensus report plus research priorities and policymaker roadmap. Frontiers in Public Health, 14, 1695757. Article 1695757. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1695757

@article{2415762cf2084bf990551faba12e76d2,

title = "Conquering today's health paradox with the power of HEAL - an expert consensus report plus research priorities and policymaker roadmap",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Despite growing scientific evidence and health guidelines, the global health paradox persists, with rising lifestyle-related diseases and escalating healthcare costs exposing the inadequacy of current efforts.OBJECTIVE: Three multidisciplinary congresses were held to generate evidence-based conclusions aimed at addressing the global health paradox.METHODS: A total of 58 experts from 62 entities participated in the international research and knowledge-exchange panels. Experts reviewed the latest findings to develop practical strategies and identify key research and policy priorities, focusing on the Healthy Eating \& Active Living (HEAL) approach.RESULTS CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: The expert consortium endorsed a 33 evidence-based consensual-statement policy roadmap for addressing global health challenges, emphasizing that the HEAL approach can significantly contribute to the {"}Prevention First{"} appeal and broad ethical, social, ecological, and economic advantages, and ultimately supporting policy change.",

keywords = "Humans, Consensus, Health Policy, Global Health, Diet, Healthy, Health Priorities, Health Promotion, Research",

author = "Wirnitzer, \{Katharina C\} and Mohamad Motevalli and Tanous, \{Derrick R\} and Clemens Drenowatz and Maximilian Moser and Holger Cramer and Thomas Rosemann and Karl-Heinz Wagner and Andreas Michalsen and Beat Knechtle and Zlatko Fras and Adilson Marques and \{Fidler Mis\}, Nata{\v s}a and Stanford, \{Fatima C\} and Christian Schubert and Nandu Goswami and Claus Leitzmann and Fredriksen, \{Per Morten\} and Gerhard Ruedl and Lima, \{Rodrigo A\} and Christian Kessler and Michael Jeitler and Khan, \{Naim A\} and Hassan Joulaei and Maryam Fatemi and Kratky, \{Karl W\} and Palmer, \{Kara K\} and Bernd Haditsch and Bo{\v s}tjan Jak{\v s}e and Walter Kofler and Tomas Pfeiffer and Cordova-Pozo, \{Kathya L\} and Patrizia Tortella and Simon Straub and Heidi Lynch and Manuel Sch{\"a}tzer and Anupama Krishnan and Shahnaz Fathima and Lukas Gatterer and Fabian Kriwan and Mittal Abhishek and Hemant Nandgaonkar and Shalaka Nandgaonkar and Adedara, \{Abiola O\} and Haro, \{Josep M\} and Amir Rashidlamir and Madan Thangavelu and Gonza Ngoumou and {\'E}va Perp{\'e}k and Michael Klaper and Bhaswati Bhattacharya and Werner Kirschner and Bessems, \{Kathelijne M H H\} and Peter Jones and Gregory Peoples and Raul Bescos and Christina Duftner and Georg Seifert",

note = "Copyright {\textcopyright} 2026 Wirnitzer, Motevalli, Tanous, Drenowatz, Moser, Cramer, Rosemann, Wagner, Michalsen, Knechtle, Fras, Marques, Fidler Mis, Stanford, Schubert, Goswami, Leitzmann, Fredriksen, Ruedl, Lima, Kessler, Jeitler, Khan, Joulaei, Fatemi, Kratky, Palmer, Haditsch, Jak{\v s}e, Kofler, Pfeiffer, Cordova-Pozo, Tortella, Straub, Lynch, Sch{\"a}tzer, Krishnan, Fathima, Gatterer, Kriwan, Abhishek, Nandgaonkar, Nandgaonkar, Adedara, Haro, Rashidlamir, Thangavelu, Ngoumou, Perp{\'e}k, Klaper, Bhattacharya, Kirschner, Bessems, Jones, Peoples, Bescos, Duftner and Seifert.",

year = "2026",

month = mar,

day = "20",

doi = "10.3389/fpubh.2026.1695757",

language = "English",

volume = "14",

pages = "1695757",

journal = "Frontiers in Public Health",

publisher = "Frontiers Media SA",

}

Wirnitzer, KC, Motevalli, M, Tanous, DR, Drenowatz, C, Moser, M, Cramer, H, Rosemann, T, Wagner, K-H, Michalsen, A, Knechtle, B, Fras, Z, Marques, A, Fidler Mis, N, Stanford, FC, Schubert, C, Goswami, N, Leitzmann, C, Fredriksen, PM, Ruedl, G, Lima, RA, Kessler, C, Jeitler, M, Khan, NA, Joulaei, H, Fatemi, M, Kratky, KW, Palmer, KK, Haditsch, B, Jakše, B, Kofler, W, Pfeiffer, T, Cordova-Pozo, KL, Tortella, P, Straub, S, Lynch, H, Schätzer, M, Krishnan, A, Fathima, S, Gatterer, L, Kriwan, F, Abhishek, M, Nandgaonkar, H, Nandgaonkar, S, Adedara, AO, Haro, JM, Rashidlamir, A, Thangavelu, M, Ngoumou, G, Perpék, É, Klaper, M, Bhattacharya, B, Kirschner, W, Bessems, KMHH, Jones, P, Peoples, G, Bescos, R, Duftner, C & Seifert, G 2026, 'Conquering today's health paradox with the power of HEAL - an expert consensus report plus research priorities and policymaker roadmap', Frontiers in Public Health, vol. 14, 1695757, pp. 1695757. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1695757

TY - JOUR

T1 - Conquering today's health paradox with the power of HEAL - an expert consensus report plus research priorities and policymaker roadmap

AU - Wirnitzer, Katharina C

AU - Motevalli, Mohamad

AU - Tanous, Derrick R

AU - Drenowatz, Clemens

AU - Moser, Maximilian

AU - Cramer, Holger

AU - Rosemann, Thomas

AU - Wagner, Karl-Heinz

AU - Michalsen, Andreas

AU - Knechtle, Beat

AU - Fras, Zlatko

AU - Marques, Adilson

AU - Fidler Mis, Nataša

AU - Stanford, Fatima C

AU - Schubert, Christian

AU - Goswami, Nandu

AU - Leitzmann, Claus

AU - Fredriksen, Per Morten

AU - Ruedl, Gerhard

AU - Lima, Rodrigo A

AU - Kessler, Christian

AU - Jeitler, Michael

AU - Khan, Naim A

AU - Joulaei, Hassan

AU - Fatemi, Maryam

AU - Kratky, Karl W

AU - Palmer, Kara K

AU - Haditsch, Bernd

AU - Jakše, Boštjan

AU - Kofler, Walter

AU - Pfeiffer, Tomas

AU - Cordova-Pozo, Kathya L

AU - Tortella, Patrizia

AU - Straub, Simon

AU - Lynch, Heidi

AU - Schätzer, Manuel

AU - Krishnan, Anupama

AU - Fathima, Shahnaz

AU - Gatterer, Lukas

AU - Kriwan, Fabian

AU - Abhishek, Mittal

AU - Nandgaonkar, Hemant

AU - Nandgaonkar, Shalaka

AU - Adedara, Abiola O

AU - Haro, Josep M

AU - Rashidlamir, Amir

AU - Thangavelu, Madan

AU - Ngoumou, Gonza

AU - Perpék, Éva

AU - Klaper, Michael

AU - Bhattacharya, Bhaswati

AU - Kirschner, Werner

AU - Bessems, Kathelijne M H H

AU - Jones, Peter

AU - Peoples, Gregory

AU - Bescos, Raul

AU - Duftner, Christina

AU - Seifert, Georg

N1 - Copyright © 2026 Wirnitzer, Motevalli, Tanous, Drenowatz, Moser, Cramer, Rosemann, Wagner, Michalsen, Knechtle, Fras, Marques, Fidler Mis, Stanford, Schubert, Goswami, Leitzmann, Fredriksen, Ruedl, Lima, Kessler, Jeitler, Khan, Joulaei, Fatemi, Kratky, Palmer, Haditsch, Jakše, Kofler, Pfeiffer, Cordova-Pozo, Tortella, Straub, Lynch, Schätzer, Krishnan, Fathima, Gatterer, Kriwan, Abhishek, Nandgaonkar, Nandgaonkar, Adedara, Haro, Rashidlamir, Thangavelu, Ngoumou, Perpék, Klaper, Bhattacharya, Kirschner, Bessems, Jones, Peoples, Bescos, Duftner and Seifert.

PY - 2026/3/20

Y1 - 2026/3/20

N2 - BACKGROUND: Despite growing scientific evidence and health guidelines, the global health paradox persists, with rising lifestyle-related diseases and escalating healthcare costs exposing the inadequacy of current efforts.OBJECTIVE: Three multidisciplinary congresses were held to generate evidence-based conclusions aimed at addressing the global health paradox.METHODS: A total of 58 experts from 62 entities participated in the international research and knowledge-exchange panels. Experts reviewed the latest findings to develop practical strategies and identify key research and policy priorities, focusing on the Healthy Eating & Active Living (HEAL) approach.RESULTS CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: The expert consortium endorsed a 33 evidence-based consensual-statement policy roadmap for addressing global health challenges, emphasizing that the HEAL approach can significantly contribute to the "Prevention First" appeal and broad ethical, social, ecological, and economic advantages, and ultimately supporting policy change.

AB - BACKGROUND: Despite growing scientific evidence and health guidelines, the global health paradox persists, with rising lifestyle-related diseases and escalating healthcare costs exposing the inadequacy of current efforts.OBJECTIVE: Three multidisciplinary congresses were held to generate evidence-based conclusions aimed at addressing the global health paradox.METHODS: A total of 58 experts from 62 entities participated in the international research and knowledge-exchange panels. Experts reviewed the latest findings to develop practical strategies and identify key research and policy priorities, focusing on the Healthy Eating & Active Living (HEAL) approach.RESULTS CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: The expert consortium endorsed a 33 evidence-based consensual-statement policy roadmap for addressing global health challenges, emphasizing that the HEAL approach can significantly contribute to the "Prevention First" appeal and broad ethical, social, ecological, and economic advantages, and ultimately supporting policy change.

KW - Humans

KW - Consensus

KW - Health Policy

KW - Global Health

KW - Diet, Healthy

KW - Health Priorities

KW - Health Promotion

KW - Research

UR - https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/hp-research/812/

U2 - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1695757

DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1695757

M3 - Article

C2 - 41938972

VL - 14

SP - 1695757

JO - Frontiers in Public Health

JF - Frontiers in Public Health

M1 - 1695757

ER -

Conquering today's health paradox with the power of HEAL - an expert consensus report plus research priorities and policymaker roadmap

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this