This is my first column writing as president in the IASO Newsletter, although I have actually been continuously involved with IASO news since I was appointed secretary in 1990.

To chair IASO is proving an extremely interesting task and I am grateful for the confidence shown in me. I have had the privilege of seeing IASO grow during the nineties and had the pleasure, while chairman of the membership committee, to see national association membership increase by a quarter. We know there are more countries with associations eager to join.

The 8th International Congress on Obesity in Paris turned into an enormous success with around 3,000 participants (see overleaf). I would like to pay tribute to the hard work of Professors Guy-Grand and Ailhaud who really managed to produce not only an excellent scientific programme, but also create an intellectually stimulating atmosphere. All our thanks go to them. 

Many important challenges lie before IASO in the months ahead. The ICO structure has to be further consolidated. Many scientific organizations have established a standing office, which ensures continuity, establishes relationships with sponsors, maintains standards and provides a helpful network. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel for every congress. The track system, once invented by Prof Bouchard for the Toronto meeting in 1994 has proven to be a very helpful framework for future congresses, although it is reasonable to assume that more tracks will develop with time. For future events such as the 9^th ICO in São Paulo in 2002, we believe we can facilitate the demanding work of the congress organizers, maintain quality and be cost-effective by creating an IASO secretariat to provide support both for congress and for the general organization of the association. Therefore the executive committee in Indianapolis agreed to open an office in London.

The close relationship between IASO and the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) has been formalized with its incorporation in the IASO bylaws as a committee. For the future, IASO/IOTF actions must be based on the contribution of the individual national associations and their willingness to participate in global activities. The Milan Initiative, which is combining the efforts of EASO, ECO and the IOTF in a major step forward, is only one milestone and other IASO regions must be ready to take similar steps so we are able to achieve a meaningful declaration at São Paulo.

Later this year we will see a new IASO review journal emerging. We will also be looking for closer collaboration with obesity-related specialists, such as diabetologists, cardiologists and others in back-to-back meetings and projects of mutual interest. With websites mushrooming everywhere, a newsletter of this type may come to serve a different purpose as information is transmitted around the world in seconds. IASO now has its own website www.iaso.org and we must consider the most cost-effective way to reach more than 5,000 IASO members on all continents.

Clearly time trends, new upcoming treatment opportunities, and an increased global awareness of obesity as a health issue, will make the coming years an exciting period. I look forward to my time as IASO president and know that with the support of devoted colleagues and national associations, IASO will prosper and become a strong voice in the scientific community in the next millennium.