04/03/2026
✨ Theme: 8 Billion Reasons to Act on Obesity 🌍
By 2035, around 4 billion people - half the world - are expected to be living with overweight or obesity.
And it’s not just an adult issue.
📈 Childhood obesity is rising rapidly, with rates among school-aged children increasing almost fivefold since 1975 - especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Obesity doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s shaped by poverty, stigma, unequal access to education and healthcare, limited availability of healthy food, and environments that don’t support healthy living.
But these outcomes are not inevitable 💙
With prevention from the earliest years, respectful care, lived experience at the centre, and equitable access to treatment - we can change the trajectory.
🌎 So why 8 billion?
Because we’re all affected by failing systems - and tackling obesity helps create healthier, fairer communities for everyone. Investment in obesity prevention and management strengthens public health, saves money, and improves lives. This isn’t a zero-sum issue - when systems work better, we all benefit.
