By Stowelink Foundation
Published: May 2025

In May 2025, Stowelink Foundation had the honour of being represented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) 2025 in Malaga, Spain—one of the most influential global convenings focused on obesity prevention, care, and innovation.

Our founder and CEO, Ogweno Stephen, joined researchers, policymakers, and advocates from around the world to bring African perspectives into the global conversation on obesity. With lived experience of obesity and years of work in the field of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), Ogweno shared insights grounded in community realities and youth leadership—two key pillars of our approach at Stowelink.

At the congress, our contributions focused on:

• Championing people-first language in obesity discourse
• Advocating for youth-centered, community-driven solutions
• Highlighting the urgent need for contextualized interventions tailored for low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa

ECO 2025 made it clear: while innovations like GLP-1-based therapies are reshaping treatment, the root causes of obesity remain deeply embedded in systemic and environmental challenges—food deserts, stigma, inequality, and the built environment. In African contexts, these challenges intersect with issues like food insecurity and rapid urbanization, making it imperative that solutions are designed locally, with equity in mind.

At Stowelink, we remain committed to pushing for policy reform, social mobilization, and behavioral change—ensuring that Africa’s youth are not just included but lead in shaping healthier futures. We are energized by the learnings from ECO 2025 and ready to translate these insights into scalable public health action.