Celebrating global leadership in addressing obesity: World Obesity Members recognised at the UN Task Force Awards
At this year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (UNIATF) honoured countries and organisations driving transformative action on obesity prevention and management.
World Obesity, the Government of Egypt, UNICEF and the WHO Foundation were all co-hosts of this important event.
For the past decade UNIATF has been awarding promising programmes and organisations working in NCDs, and there was enthusiastic interest in the topic of obesity for this year’s awards. The 2025 UNIATF Awards, held in New York on 25 September, recognised 12 governments and 7 non-State actors for their pioneering, multisectoral approaches - from national sugar taxes, to effective management, and community-led prevention programmes.
Among those celebrated were several World Obesity Federation members and partners, recognised for their leadership, innovation, and commitment to changing how obesity is addressed and understood around the world. Many World Obesity members and lived experience colleagues attended and supported the event.
World Obesity members and partners recognised
Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS)
Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS) was recognised for its pioneering community-based work to manage and prevent obesity.
In response to the alarming rise in obesity and other NCDs in Cameroon, the CBCHS launched the Non-Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Programme to create awareness, screen, treat, and refer NCD cases. This integrated model reduces morbidity and mortality through sustainable, community-driven interventions - addressing both prevention and clinical management.
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Belgian Association for the Study of Obesity (BASO)
Belgian Association for the Study of Obesity (BASO) was awarded for putting obesity firmly on Belgium’s political agenda and amplifying the voices of people living with obesity.
Through innovative initiatives such as Infobees - structured forums where patients directly inform care design - BASO ensures that obesity services respond to real needs and lived experience.
This rights-based, collaborative approach is helping transform access to care in Belgium, advancing policies that recognise obesity as a chronic disease, and ensuring that people living with obesity receive the care and dignity they deserve.
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Obesity Matters (Canada)
Obesity Matters (Canada) was recognised for its groundbreaking OM Wellness Workshop - a free, 12-month virtual programme co-created with clinicians and people living with obesity.
Rooted in lived experience, the workshop helps reduce stigma, build resilience, and support sustainable lifestyle changes. Together with its digital platforms, it has reached more than 10 million people worldwide. Independent surveys report powerful outcomes: a 36% drop in self-blame, a 29% reduction in guilt and shame, and a 35% increase in confidence.
For the Obesity Matters community, this award is more than recognition - it is momentum, proving that compassion and community can inspire global change in how obesity is seen, understood, and treated.
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Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (South Africa)
Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (South Africa) received recognition for its leadership in obesity advocacy.
Building on two decades of HIV activism, the Foundation applies the same rights-based, community-led model to obesity. Through initiatives such as the Mpilo Health Park - a youth hub blending exercise, nutrition, and mental health care - and influential campaigns like World Obesity Day and the Johannesburg Declaration, the Foundation is reframing obesity as an issue of rights, equity, and inclusion.
Read MoreGovernments taking bold action
Our government partners - including the Republic of Seychelles, Mexico, and South Africa - were among twelve governments recognised for their leadership in advancing obesity prevention and control through strong policy, cross-sector collaboration, and national action plans.
The full list of countries honoured at this year’s UNIATF Awards includes:
Bahrain, Barbados, Egypt, Greece, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.
Each of these governments has demonstrated a commitment to multisectoral action - from implementing fiscal policies such as sugar-sweetened beverage taxes, to integrating obesity care into primary health systems, to promoting healthier food environments and active living.
We look forward to continuing to work alongside these champions, supporting knowledge exchange, advocacy, and capacity-building efforts that turn commitments into measurable progress. Political leadership at the highest level is essential - because only with sustained government action can we achieve equitable, effective, and lasting change on obesity and related noncommunicable diseases.
Global progress, collective resolve
Speaking at the awards, Dr Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Control, emphasised that obesity is largely preventable - and that change is possible with the right leadership and commitment.
"These champions demonstrate that progress is possible. Their leadership inspires collective action to stop obesity worldwide" Dr Jeremy Farrar WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Control
Looking ahead
As the world looks beyond UNGA 80 and toward the next High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage in 2027, these awards serve as a reminder of what’s possible when governments, communities, and advocates work together.
In a week where the global conversation on obesity was marked by both disappointment and determination, the UNIATF Awards highlighted a different kind of story - one of innovation, courage, and collective hope.
Civil society, lived experience advocates, and forward-thinking countries will continue to lead the way.
The time to act is now.
For half of humanity
Find out how you can join the call for urgent, united action on obesity. Explore resources, key messages, and advocacy tools in our For Half of Humanity campaign toolkit - and help ensure no one is left behind.
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