2024 in review: Instituto Cordial
Institute Cordial launches Legislative Agenda for Obesity at the National Congress.
In August 13, the Institute Cordial held a groundbreaking event in the Chamber of Deputies with the launch of the Legislative Agenda for Obesity, a document designed to address one of Brazil’s most pressing public health challenges. Developed by the Brazilian Obesity Panel (PBO), the agenda provides a roadmap to curb the growth of obesity and stabilize its prevalence by 2030, following the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Legislative Agenda for Obesity is a nonpartisan and territorially decentralized initiative that focuses on evidence-based policymaking to reduce obesity rates and safeguard the rights of affected individuals. The document outlines nine priority legislative proposals, grouped into three core pillars:
- Recognizing obesity as a Noncommunicable Chronic Disease (NCD);
- Increasing the visibility of obesity within public health systems;
- Ensuring and strengthening the rights of individuals with obesity.
These proposals were selected after an extensive legislative mapping conducted by the PBO, which reviewed 49 bills related to obesity currently under consideration in the Chamber of Deputies. The nine priority bills were chosen based on their potential to create meaningful impact, inclusivity, and alignment with international health guidelines.
The launch event, requested by Representative Dr Francisco (PT-PI), who chairs the Health Commission, highlighted the urgent need for legislative action. Several key stakeholders attended, including lawmakers such as Deputies Flávia Morais (PDT-GO), Jorge Solla (PT-BA), and Luiz Ovando (PP-MS), as well as representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SBEM), and the Brazilian Association for the Study of Obesity (ABESO).
“The Health Commission recognized the importance of presenting this agenda,” said Dr Francisco during the hearing. “This initiative is endorsed by the Commission and represents a significant step toward addressing obesity in Brazil.”
Obesity in Brazil: A Growing Concern
The legislative agenda comes at a critical time for Brazil, where 24.3% of the population lives with obesity, according to the 2023 Vigitel report. Childhood obesity is particularly alarming, with annual growth rates of 3.8%, described by experts as excessively high.
“This is the PBO’s greatest challenge,” said Luis Fernando Meyer, Director of Operations at Institute Cordial. “We need to tackle the complexity and multifactorial nature of obesity to develop more effective protocols for managing the disease and its associated costs in Brazil.”
The agenda goes beyond merely supporting the passage of the nine selected bills. It also includes technical recommendations to enhance the proposed legislation, ensuring alignment with global best practices for obesity care, fostering inclusive language, and creating complementary frameworks.
Strengthening Legislation for Lasting Impact
The Institute Cordial's Legislative Agenda for Obesity is the first of its kind in Brazil, uniquely dedicated to advancing legislative solutions for this issue. By prioritizing these key projects, the agenda aims to expedite their progress through Congress, leading to tangible outcomes such as improved public health systems, reduced obesity prevalence, and strengthened rights for individuals living with obesity.
“This is a pivotal moment,” added Meyer. “We’re offering legislators a clear, evidence-based path forward to address one of Brazil’s most urgent public health concerns.”
With this agenda, the Institute Cordial reaffirms its commitment to fostering collaborative, science-driven solutions to tackle obesity, ensuring a healthier future for all Brazilians.