World Obesity at the 79th World Health Assembly

From 18-25 May, the World Obesity Federation delegation joined our Members and partners to advocate for action on obesity at the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA).

President Simón Barquera, CEO Johanna Ralston, and staff members Magdalena Wetzel and Rachel Thompson were joined by World Obesity Lived Experience Board member, Amber Huett–Garcia, Angie Carriedo, co-chair of the Policy & Prevention Committee and Volkan Yumuk, EASO President. The team spent the week together co-hosting, attending and speaking at side events, delivering statements on key agenda items, and meeting with governments and partners.

In the midst of ongoing global health funding challenges, conflict in the Middle East, an ebola outbreak recently declared, and with a controversial reform process about to begin, this year’s WHA came at a challenging time. The need for stronger global cooperation, new partnerships, and more resilient health systems designed with and by lived experience at the centre has never felt more urgent. 

As we look ahead to the 2027 High-Level Meeting on UHC, this was a critical moment to help shape how obesity is understood and positioned within health systems — not as a standalone issue, but as part of how countries deliver care, prevention, and equity.

Key WHA items for World Obesity included:

• Universal health coverage (UHC) and primary health care (PHC)

• The follow up to the 2025 High-Level Meeting on Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health, including a resolution on steatotic liver disease 

• Maternal, infant and young child nutrition 

• Global health architecture reform

Read on for highlights…