Statement to the 76th World Health Assembly - Universal Health Coverage

Looking to the HLM on UHC, more needs to be done to integrate obesity into UHC. 1 billion people globally are estimated to be living with obesity by 2030 thus obesity services including prevention, management and treatment are increasingly essential.

The WHO recommendations on obesity recognise the need for equitable access to a continuum of care from health promotion and prevention to diagnosis, treatment, management of obesity as part of UHC, while in line with WHO’s new set of Appendix 3 actions, where we note absence of obesity-oriented actions aimed at tackling comorbidities i.e. diabetes.

Primary Health Care must include obesity and NCDs as the cornerstone of people-centred, integrated health system and foundation for achieving UHC. We welcome experiences of front-runner countries informing and spearheading action for all Member States. World Obesity is committed to working together as civil society partners to accelerate action on obesity.