Geneva, Switzerland – May 2025
This week, the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) convenes in Geneva, marking a pivotal moment in the global health calendar.
Taking place at the Palais des Nations, the UN’s European headquarters, WHA78 arrives amid heightened global focus on pandemic preparedness, universal health coverage, and the social and commercial determinants of health. These themes are deeply intertwined with NCDs, including obesity — yet advocates warn that unless obesity is meaningfully included in these discussions, it risks being overlooked in key resolutions, budget allocations, and implementation strategies.
“This is not just another meeting — it’s a strategic platform to demand meaningful policy change,” said Vicki Mooney, Executive Director of the European Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ECPO), who attended the Assembly to represent the voices of those living with obesity across Europe and beyond.
Vicki emphasised the urgent need to move beyond rhetoric and into action: “Despite obesity being a key gateway to many NCDs and pandemic vulnerabilities, we continue to see fragmented or insufficient policies. The WHO’s Obesity Acceleration Plan is a step forward in the right direction which includes both prevention and management of obesity, however, we actually need a fundamental rewiring of global health frameworks to ensure people living with obesity are seen, heard, and prioritised in health governance.”
Her presence at WHA78 with colleagues Susie Birney and Jason Halford, including the GOPA and WOF community, was not only symbolic of the growing momentum for change — it was a tangible demonstration of the leadership, expertise, and moral authority that patient advocates bring to the global stage. Her voice contributed to shifting perceptions and raising the political priority of obesity in global health discourse.
As the most significant annual health policy event — second only to the upcoming UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs in September — the WHA plays a critical role in shaping the direction of international health policy. Advocates from across the NCD community stress that people living with NCDs must be more than passive subjects of health policy. Instead, they must be recognised as vital partners in shaping the strategies that affect their lives.
This year, calls for a more inclusive, equity-focused approach are growing louder. Civil society leaders argue that without meaningful engagement and representation, especially from marginalised or stigmatised communities such as those living with obesity, the world will fall short of its goals on universal health coverage and pandemic resilience.
As WHA78 continues, all eyes are on decision-makers to see whether this will be the year obesity is no longer an afterthought in global health — but a central concern that receives the attention, funding, and policy coherence it demands.