This month marks a significant milestone for Ogweno Stephen, a leading Kenyan health advocate, with the publication of his first paper in The BMJ (British Medical Journal)—one of the world’s most respected medical journals.

The opinion piece, co-authored with Bai Li, Maggie Wetzel, and Kent Buse, is titled “Neglecting obesity in the 2025 NCD agenda will leave one billion people behind” (BMJ 2025;390:r1693). The article delivers a clear warning: unless obesity is recognized and prioritized in the upcoming UN High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), the world risks leaving more than one billion people living with obesity behind.

Why This Paper Matters

The obesity epidemic is one of the greatest health challenges of our time, yet it continues to be neglected in global health and policy discussions. The BMJ article argues that the current draft of the 2025 UN political declaration on NCDs does not go far enough. While the draft emphasizes people-centered and rights-based approaches, it fails to recognize obesity as a chronic disease—despite WHO and global scientific consensus acknowledging it as such.

For Ogweno Stephen, this gap is particularly concerning because obesity is a major driver of other NCDs like diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. As the article highlights:

• Obesity accounts for 43% of type 2 diabetes cases,
• Up to 78% of hypertension cases, and
• Plays a role in 13 different cancers.

Yet fewer than 20% of countries have integrated obesity prevention into primary care.

The Case for Stronger Political Action

The BMJ paper lays out clear evidence on why urgent systemic action is needed:

• By 2035, the global cost of obesity is projected to reach $4.3 trillion annually.
• Every $1 invested in obesity prevention yields $6 in returns, through reduced healthcare costs and improved productivity.
• Proven interventions—such as taxes on sugary drinks, stronger front-of-pack labeling, and reducing the availability of ultra-processed foods—are available but underutilized.

Despite this, the current draft of the UN political declaration is weaker than earlier versions and omits critical references to evidence-based interventions like sugar-sweetened beverage taxes.

Ogweno Stephen’s Role and Voice

For Ogweno Stephen, publishing in The BMJ is not just an academic achievement—it is an extension of his global health advocacy work. As someone who has been at the forefront of obesity and NCD advocacy in Kenya, Africa, and globally, his contribution to this paper ensures that voices from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are included in shaping the global conversation.

By calling obesity a chronic, complex, and multifactorial disease—and not merely a lifestyle choice—Ogweno and his co-authors reframe the crisis as one of political will and systemic responsibility, rather than individual blame.

Looking Ahead to the UN High-Level Meeting

The publication of this BMJ article comes just weeks before the 4th UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health in New York. As a Kenyan health advocate and leader with the World Obesity Federation, Ogweno will continue pushing for a stronger political declaration that:

1. Recognizes obesity as a chronic disease.
2. Commits governments to implementing WHO recommendations on prevention and treatment.
3. Integrates obesity prevention into primary healthcare systems.
4. Places people living with obesity at the center of solutions.

A Milestone for Kenyan Advocacy

This BMJ publication represents a significant step for Ogweno Stephen as a global health thought leader. It reinforces his voice not only as a Kenyan health advocate, but also as a contributor to the global scientific and policy discourse on obesity and NCDs.

As the world prepares for the UN High-Level Meeting, this paper serves as a call to action: obesity must no longer be sidelined. Failure to act will mean millions of preventable deaths, trillions in economic costs, and a future where one billion people remain neglected.

read full paper here