South Africa leading G20 Nations with obesity and NCDs health agenda
The second G20 Health Working Group (HWG) meeting, hosted by the Department of Health from 26 - 28 March 2025 in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, brought together delegates from G20 countries, invited nations, and international organisations to discuss critical health challenges under the theme 'Accelerate Health Equity, Solidarity, and Universal Coverage'.
With a strong emphasis on universal health coverage (UHC) and primary healthcare (PHC), discussions focused on strengthening health systems, ensuring financial protection, and bridging health equity gaps. During his opening statement, Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, called for accelerating efforts in non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention and control, focusing on multisectoral approaches.
As the current G20 President, South Africa has placed equitable multilateral health solutions at the centre of its agenda. This year’s health priorities focus on accelerating Universal Health Coverage through a Primary Healthcare approach and stemming the tide of NCDs, which account for a growing proportion of disease burden worldwide. Key areas of discussion included improving models of care, ensuring financial protection, and strengthening health financing mechanisms, particularly in the face of economic challenges. The plenary sessions underscored the urgency of integrating PHC into health service delivery to improve system resilience, while also emphasising policies to prevent and manage NCDs through stronger regulatory measures, and empowering communities, with a focus on accountability and participatory governance.
"We need to stop treating people like they have singular diseases" Ms Jeanette Hunter Deputy-Director General: Health, National Health Department, South Africa
A notable side event, co-hosted by South Africa and the World Health Organization (WHO), addressed the need to restrict the marketing of unhealthy food to children - a critical issue to address obesity and NCDs. Magdalena Wetzel, Head of Policy and Advocacy at the World Obesity Federation, was invited as a panellist to discuss the role of policy and regulation in curbing harmful food marketing practices. She emphasised that "there will be no progress on NCDs unless obesity is addressed."
Magdalena also highlighted the need to mobilise public support and increase civil society demand for policies that address obesity and NCDs where people living with obesity have a greater role to play.
Experts emphasised the growing impact of digital advertising on children's dietary habits and the urgent need for stronger regulatory frameworks and multisectoral collaboration.
During the NCD plenary, we delivered a statement calling for a stronger focus on obesity as a central pillar in addressing NCDs.
By prioritising obesity within the NCD agenda, G20 nations have an opportunity to set a global precedent and drive meaningful progress in tackling the growing health crisis.
Our Statement
Click here to read our statement delivered to the NCD Plenary at the second G20 Health Working Group.
Our Statement