Alarming Rise of Obesity: The 4th United Nations High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Should Advance Action to Tackle Obesity

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic disease that affects over one billion people in the world and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. It is impossible to advance prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, without simultaneously halting the rise of obesity. The 2018 political declaration of the 3rd United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on noncommunicable diseases calls for the Implementation of cost-effective and evidence-based interventions to halt the rise of overweight and obesity, especially childhood obesity. Since then, the evidence supporting the impact of regular physical activity and a healthy diet on the prevention of obesity has become more compelling. However, the prevalence of obesity across all age groups has increased due to the ineffective public policy response, the fierce opposition from commercial actors, and difficulties in navigating implementation challenges. This paper outlines the growing evidence, recent developments, and lessons learnt since 2018 and highlights new opportunities and remaining challenges with regard to prevention of obesity, ahead of the 4th United Nations High-Level Meeting on noncommunicable diseases in September 2025.