New York, USA , September 2025

At the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meetings on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health, Kenyan health advocate Ogweno Stephen was interviewed by The Economist during the influential session titled “Accelerating Action Toward SDG 3.4: Putting Obesity on the NCD Agenda.”

The high-level dialogue, sponsored by Novo Nordisk and hosted by The Economist Impact, brought together global experts, policymakers, and advocates to discuss innovative policy and health solutions to tackle the world’s growing obesity epidemic. With projections showing that more than half of the global population could be living with overweight or obesity by 2035, the urgency for global cooperation could not be clearer.

In his interview, Ogweno Stephen shared his personal journey of living with and overcoming obesity, offering a deeply human perspective on a topic often discussed only in statistics and policy terms. He emphasized the importance of integrating lived experience voices into global health decision-making, noting that policies grounded in real-life stories have far greater impact and sustainability.

“We can’t fight obesity without listening to those living through it,” Ogweno shared. “The stigma, the barriers to treatment, and the social realities , these are as important as the data. Lived experience is evidence too.”

As a Kenyan health advocate and founder of the Stowelink Foundation, Ogweno also discussed how Africa is innovating around obesity prevention and primary health care. Through initiatives like youth-led campaigns, digital storytelling, and community-based health education, Stowelink is shifting perceptions about noncommunicable diseases and empowering young people to take charge of their health.

The Economist panel explored how countries can operationalize the WHO’s Acceleration Plan to Stop Obesity, integrate prevention into primary health care systems, and prioritize obesity as a national development issue. Ogweno’s participation added a crucial dimension , demonstrating how Kenya’s lived experience advocates are shaping global policy conversations on obesity and NCDs.

For Ogweno Stephen, this moment was not just about representing Kenya but also about bringing the African lived experience voice to global health platforms where decisions about prevention, care, and equity are being made.