Statement to the 158th WHO Executive Board - NCDs
Statement to the 158th WHO Executive Board
Agenda Item 06
Non-Communicable Diseases
The World Obesity Federation, supported by the ISGlobal Public Health Liver Group, welcomes the adoption of the 4th Political Declaration on NCDs, and calls for accelerated action on obesity and steatotic liver disease.
More than 1 billion people globally live with obesity, of which over 70% will develop metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a preventable condition that can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Liver cancer deaths have risen more than 200% in the past two decades.
These burdens affect every country, sharing drivers with other NCDs. Yet MASLD remains largely invisible, and obesity siloed, in public health policy. To reduce premature death and disability, and achieve Universal Health Coverage, we support the World Health Assembly embedding obesity and MASLD as diseases in WHO frameworks, normative guidance, action plans as part of the NCD response.