On March 4, 2025, I had the incredible opportunity to speak at the WHO Technical Package to Stop Obesity launch webinar. As a strong advocate for NCDs advocacy, health, and obesity prevention in Kenya and beyond, this event was a crucial moment to discuss one of the biggest global health challenges of our time—the rising obesity epidemic and how we must shift our response from blaming individuals to systemic change.

The Obesity Crisis: A Systems Problem, Not an Individual Failure

For years, obesity has been misunderstood. The common narrative frames it as a personal failure—a matter of willpower, poor diet choices, or lack of exercise. But this is not only misleading, it’s harmful. Obesity is a disease, and like other NCDs, it is driven by multiple factors—many of which are beyond individual control.

During my intervention, I shared insights from my lived experience as well as my work in NCDs advocacy, reinforcing three key messages:

1. Obesity is Shaped by Our Environments

People don’t make choices in a vacuum. The food we eat, the places we live, and the policies that govern our health systems all contribute to our ability (or inability) to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Without healthy food environments, safe spaces for physical activity, and supportive health systems, individual efforts alone are not enough. The WHO Technical Package calls for adapting environments to enable healthier lifestyles—and this is exactly the kind of change we need.

2. We Must End the Culture of Blame and Stigma

One of the most damaging aspects of the obesity crisis is the stigma attached to it. People living with obesity are often blamed, shamed, and left out of the policy conversation. This must change. Instead of pointing fingers, we need to focus on evidence-based solutions that address obesity as a public health issue, not a personal shortcoming.

3. Policy Action is the Key to Lasting Change

No single intervention will stop the obesity epidemic. What we need is a coherent, comprehensive, and prioritized response. The WHO Technical Package provides exactly that—a structured framework that focuses on:
Transforming health systems to better respond to obesity.
Educating and empowering individuals with the right knowledge and skills.
Creating healthier environments that make the healthy choice the easy choice.

A Call to Action: It’s Time to Act on Obesity

The WHO Technical Package to Stop Obesity is more than just a set of recommendations—it is a roadmap for governments, policymakers, and advocates like myself to drive real change. But the success of this package depends on action.

As we move forward, we must:
 Ensure obesity is prioritized in national health policies
 Strengthen collaboration across sectors—health, education, agriculture, and urban planning must work together
 Continue amplifying the voices of those with lived experience to shape solutions that truly work

The fight against obesity is a fight for health equity, for better policy, and for a future where no one is left behind. As a Kenyan NCDs advocate, I remain committed to pushing this agenda forward—because obesity is not just a health issue, it’s a social justice issue.