New member organisations join World Obesity

The South Asian Obesity Forum, is a unique consortium of 8 different South Asian countries, bound together under the official tagline 'United Against Obesity.' This distinct approach, involving countries like Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Bangladesh, and India, sets the forum’s vision to address the challenges of the obesity pandemic and to mitigate its impact in the region through obesity education, research, and advocacy. Registered in Kathmandu, the forum was launched during the Annual Congress of the Sri Lanka College of Endocrinologists – SLENDO 2024. 

The association is eager to engage with fellow members to share knowledge, exchange best practices, and collectively work towards reducing the burden of obesity in South Asia.

The Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF) is a South African non-profit organisation and strategic partner of the University of Cape Town’s Faculty of Health Sciences. Founded on Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s principles of dignity, inclusion, and social justice, DTHF translates science into service to improve the lives of people and communities across South Africa. Over the past two decades, DTHF has been at the forefront of transforming the HIV and tuberculosis epidemics through cutting-edge clinical research, youth-driven community programmes, and bold health-policy advocacy. They operate eight research and service sites in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces, reaching more than 130 000 people annually through integrated prevention, care, and research. Their teams bridge laboratory science, clinical innovation, implementation research, and social science to design solutions that work in real-world health systems. Recognising the rise of NCDs, in 2021 DTHF expanded its mandate to include obesity, metabolic health, and mental health - seeing these as the next great equity challenge. They leverage their HIV infrastructure - mobile units, digital platforms, laboratory networks, and youth engagement - to deliver holistic, person-centred care that addresses both infectious and chronic conditions.

Mission: To advance health equity and social justice by generating evidence, building capacity, and delivering integrated, person-centred care that responds to the evolving health needs of communities.

Vision: A South Africa - and a world - where every individual, regardless of background or income, can achieve and sustain optimal health and wellbeing in environments that support healthy living.