World Obesity Day
Changing Systems, Healthier Lives
World Obesity Day (WOD) is an annual event that takes place on March 4th to raise awareness of obesity and encourage action to address it. The day’s goal is to improve understanding of obesity, end stigmas, and promote practical solutions.
For this World Obesity Day (4 March 2025), we’re calling for a shift in focus — from individuals to the systems that shape our health.
For too long, the world has looked at obesity through a narrow lens, often placing the burden on individuals. But the reality is much more complex. Failing systems—health, food, regulatory, governmental, and even urban design—are driving rising rates of obesity worldwide.
These systems influence the environments we live in, the food we eat, and the care we receive, perpetuating obesity as a chronic disease and a driver of others, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Events
FAQs
What are the objectives of WOD?
- 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.
What does it mean to be overweight or obese?
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.
What is the theme of this year’s World Obesity Day and why?
The theme for World Obesity Day 2025 is “Changing Systems, Healthier Lives.” This theme emphasizes the need to shift focus from individual behaviors to the broader systems that influence health outcomes, such as healthcare services, government policies, food environments, media, workplaces, and communities. By addressing these systemic factors, the goal is to create environments that support healthier choices and reduce the prevalence of obesity.
WORLD OBESITY DAY Posters
