Obesity Lived Experience Global Summit 2026
Jul 14, 2026Obesity Lived Experience Global Summit 2026
The World Obesity Lived Experience Summit will take place on 14 July 2026 in Mexico City as a pre-congress event ahead of the International Congress on Obesity (ICO) 2026. The Summit aims to provide a structured, educational forum for people living with obesity or related conditions to strengthen their understanding of health systems and policy processes, develop communication and engagement skills, and connect with peers from different regions.
The Summit will bring together people from diverse geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, with a strong focus on diversity, inclusion, and equitable representation. The programme will consist of core educational and interactive sessions, delivered through facilitated workshops, moderated panel discussions, and small group exercises. Content will be co-developed with lived experience contributors and supported by experienced facilitators.
Indicative areas of focus include:
- Understanding health systems and policy processes: how global guidance and frameworks relate to national health systems.
- Integrating new voices: bringing in advocates from other disease areas affected by obesity will widen the lens of potential voices and solutions.
- Effective engagement and communication: sharing lived experience in a clear, constructive, and respectful way within professional and policy settings.
- Addressing stigma and bias: understanding their impact on health outcomes and healthcare interactions.
- Peer exchange and network building: learning from diverse experiences and approaches across regions.
Obesity Lived Experience Global Summit 2026
Turning Lived Experience into Personal and Policy Action and Impact
14 July 2026
- Welcome & Building a Lived Experience Community
- Understanding Obesity in the Health Policy Landscape and the Key Role of Lived Experience
- From Personal Story to Policy Message Panel
- Global Tools and Targets: Advancing Obesity on the Global Health Agenda
- Breakout Group Work
- Turning Ideas into Action
- Next Steps, Diplomas, Photos
- Johanna Ralston, CEO, World Obesity
- Amber Huett Garcia, Lived Experience Advocate & World Obesity Board Member
- Karen Sealey, Lived Experience Advocate & World Obesity Board Member
- Bruno Halpern, Incoming President, World Obesity
- Joe Nadglowski, Obesity Action Coalition
- Salih Hendricks, Blue Circle Voice
- Dr. Kim Yoohyun
- Antonia Gama, IAPO
- Lisa Schaffer, Obesity Canada
- Maggie Wetzel & Bruno Helman, Advocacy Team, World Obesity
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