• To raise awareness about obesity as a systemic issue requiring multi-level interventions.
• To advocate for policy changes that support healthier food environments and active lifestyles.
• To engage stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, policymakers, and communities, in collaborative efforts to combat obesity.
• To create awareness on healthy nutrition, physical activity, and obesity prevention.
• To highlight successful obesity prevention and management programmes in South Africa.
• To engage with the media to raise awareness of the impact systems have on the rise in obesity amongst our population.

A body weight that is higher than what is considered a healthy weight for a given height, indicates overweight or obesity. Body mass index, or BMI, is used as a screening tool for overweight or obesity in adults, as being overweight or obese can increase your risk for certain diseases The BMI is a measure of a person’s weight adjusted for height and is calculated using your weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in metres, i.e. BMI = kg/m2.
If you are an adult and your BMI is:
∙ less than 18.5, it falls in the underweight range
∙ 18.5 to <25, it falls within the normal range
∙ 25 to <30, it means you are overweight
∙ 30 or higher, it means you are obese
∙ 35 or higher, it means you are severely obese
It is important to remember that BMI does not distinguish between excess fat, muscle, or bone mass and it does not provide any indication of the distribution of fat among individuals, which is also associated with health risk. For example, individuals with more fat around their trunk/abdominal area are at a higher risk for certain diseases compared to those with more excess fat around their hip and leg area.
There are also certain things that can influence your BMI, such as muscles (muscular individuals and athletes may have a higher BMI because of their increased muscle mass) and age (older adults tend to have more body fat than younger adults). Though it is a useful screening tool but should not be used as the only marker for being at risk of disease. Other screening tests include blood pressure measurements, blood glucose measurements, and blood fat (e.g., cholesterol) measurements.

The theme of World Obesity Day 2026 is “8 Billion Reasons to Act on Obesity.”

This theme reflects the fact that the global population has now surpassed eight billion people and every single person deserves access to environments, systems, and healthcare services that support healthy living and protect against preventable disease.

The theme emphasises that obesity is not just an individual issue, but a global systems challenge that affects people across all countries, communities, and life stages. It calls for coordinated, multisectoral action to improve food systems, strengthen healthcare responses, create healthier environments, and protect children and vulnerable populations.

In South Africa, the global theme aligns with the national focus on Changing Systems, Healthier Lives, reinforcing the need to shift attention from individual blame to transforming the systems that shape health outcomes.

Ultimately, “8 Billion Reasons to Act on Obesity” is a reminder that everyone counts and that sustainable progress requires collective responsibility and systemic change.