Policy Makers

This World Obesity Day, we’re calling on policy makers to take bold, systemic action to address the obesity crisis. No single intervention will suffice—tackling obesity requires a comprehensive approach across health, food, and societal systems.

Calls to Action:

In Food Systems

Stronger government regulation to reduce the consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages, including:
- Fiscal policies such as sugar-sweetened beverages taxes
- Front-of-pack nutrition labelling and mandatory nutrient declarations
- Marketing restrictions on unhealthy products
For actions to increase equitable access to healthy food across the life course, including:
- Protection, promotion and support for breastfeeding
- Healthy public food procurement and service policies
- Reformulation of food and beverage products for healthy diets

In Health Systems

To include access to primary, secondary and tertiary obesity services in insurance and universal health coverage packages

In our environments and wider society:

Local governments to create public green spaces for active recreation and sport for people of all ages and abilities
Transport systems to promote walking and cycling routes
Fiscal measures to promote physical activity, for example reduced tax on sporting goods and subsidies for extracurricular physical activity programmes.

SOCIAL MEDIA EXAMPLES

The global rise in obesity rates are caused by failing systems.

Health systems that are ill-equipped to care for people with obesity
A food system driven by profit, unhealthy food and billions of dollars on advertising
Political systems that are based on outdated health data and an oversimplified obesity narrative
Planning and transport systems that discourage people from being physically active
Employment systems that shape the daily routines and economic realities of many working people

We need to change the institutional bodies that are failing us. Find out how here worldobesityday.org

Local governments can play a role in addressing rates of obesity around the world. We’re calling on cities and towns to create public green spaces for active recreation and sport for people of all ages and abilities. Find out more here worldobesityday.org

Local governments can play a role in addressing rates of obesity around the world. We’re calling on cities and towns to develop transport systems that encourage walking and cycling. Find out more here worldobesityday.org

It’s time to fix our failing systems. We’re calling on regulators to limit advertising of unhealthy food. Find out more here worldobesityday.org

Our current food systems are driving a huge increase in rates of obesity. We need clearer food labelling so that people can make informed choices about what they eat. Find out more here worldobesityday.org

Our current food systems are driving a huge increase in rates of obesity. We are calling on governments to introduce policies such as sugar-sweetened beverage taxes to help people to make healthier choices. Find out more here worldobesityday.org

We need the media to stop perpetuating the the narratives that obesity is a matter of personal responsibility. We are calling on media regulators to stop the stigma. Find out more here worldobesityday.org