“Lived experience is the missing piece” - Why obesity policy must start with people
For too long, people living with obesity have been left out of the rooms where decisions are made.
We’ve been called in as an afterthought - to tick a box, to provide a quote, or to be symbolic representatives - without truly being involved in shaping the policies that affect our lives.
But this year, things feel different.
As part of the growing global cohort of lived experience advocates, I’ve seen firsthand how engagement is shifting. At this moment - on the road to the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) - our voices are finally being heard in real and meaningful ways. And it’s critical that this trend continues.
Why lived experience matters
When we talk about obesity, we are often met with two things: stigma and oversimplification. Policies are written with good intentions, but they too often ignore the complexity of obesity and fail to reflect the lived realities of those of us affected. A “move more, eat less” mindset misses the point. It neglects the systemic issues - our health systems, our built environments, and the food industry - that shape our daily lives.
Lived experience brings this nuance. It roots policies in reality and ensures they respond to real needs. It challenges stigma and reframes obesity as a human rights issue. Everyone has a right to health - people living with obesity included.
We are holding the system accountable
One of the biggest failures of global NCD strategies has been a lack of implementation. Commitments are made, but little action follows. That’s where lived experience becomes essential. We’re not just storytellers - we are watchdogs, advocates, and organisers.
When we’re at the table from the start, we help build accountability into the process. We monitor progress. We ensure policy commitments don’t just sound good but actually do good.
The time for action is now
If nearly half the world’s population is projected to be living with overweight or obesity in the coming years, then obesity is not a marginal issue - it’s central to our collective future. That means policies must be made with, not for, people like me.
Thanks to organisations like World Obesity Federation, lived experience advocates are finally being given real platforms. We’ve been at the World Health Assembly, in advocacy trainings, and now part of the global dialogue leading to the UN HLM. It’s vital that this continues - and expands.
This is our chance to make change that lasts. And it begins by ensuring those living with obesity are not just visible, but truly heard.
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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