The WHO Foundation has announced a collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company to strengthen global health systems for obesity prevention and care. The initiative aims to assess gaps in healthcare systems and develop sustainable, equitable approaches to obesity management, particularly in resource-limited settings. Obesity is a growing global health crisis, with over 2.5 billion adults and more than 390 million children and adolescents overweight in 2022, and one in eight people worldwide living with obesity. The prevalence of adult obesity has more than doubled since 1990, while adolescent obesity has quadrupled.
Under the collaboration, Lilly is committing $1.68 million to support the WHO Foundation’s efforts until 2029. The funding will help countries implement evidence-based policies, develop training standards for health workers, and integrate programs that enable early diagnosis, counseling, and care. The initiative aims to reduce the economic and health impacts of obesity while ensuring equitable and stigma-free care for all age groups.
Anil Soni, CEO of the WHO Foundation, emphasized that addressing obesity requires more than individual programs; it demands robust health systems capable of delivering care across the life course. Patrik Jonsson, Executive Vice President at Lilly, highlighted that the partnership will help countries identify gaps in care, strengthen primary healthcare services, and create pathways for prevention and treatment where the need is greatest.
The WHO Foundation, established in 2020 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, supports the mission of the World Health Organization by mobilizing philanthropic capital and building partnerships to advance health equity, respond to urgent health challenges, and strengthen systems that save lives. Through this collaboration, both organizations aim to scale solutions and drive lasting improvements in global obesity care.
