Working with WHO to advance the global obesity agenda: Road map to a resolution

With obesity recognised as one of the most pressing public health challenges of the 21^st century, the World Health Organization (WHO) will not be able to achieve its target of 1 billion people to live healthier lives by 2023 without tackling obesity, nor does any national government will have a chance to fully meet their targets to halt the rise in adult and childhood obesity by 2025.

A WHO Resolution on obesity can serve as the foundation for a tool to prompt global, coordinated action, and considerably advance progress to address the prevention, treatment and management of obesity globally.

On Tuesday 19^th October, World Obesity convened patient advocates and Members to:

• Explain the value of WHO in global health
• Describe the relationship between World Obesity, its Members and patient advocates, and WHO
• Describe the success of past resolutions
• Use the recent resolution on Diabetes as a guide to propose a way forward for a resolution on obesity

These can be global consultations as well as regional ones. In addition, World Obesity Members can:

• Publicise issues, offer language and items for the resolution, and coordinate joint statements with other partners
• Reach out to Member States representatives in their country and highlight the need to address obesity and ensure that the information is communicated to the WHO delegations
• Use some of the available evidence and statistics on World Obesity’s website and Global Obesity Observatory to make a case. A national government will need to table a draft resolution, which will then be open for information consultation by Member States
• Can support Member States in the negotiations through technical assistance

Learn more about what actions you can take at the national, regional and global level by reading our background document.