By Stowelink Foundation
Published: June 2025

Obesity is now a global health emergency, impacting over 1 billion people, with prevalence rising rapidly across Africa. At the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) 2025) in Malaga, Stowelink Foundation joined global public health leaders to reflect on the journey so far—and the path ahead.

The timing of the congress was symbolic. Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), it sparked much-needed conversations about adopting similar regulatory momentum for unhealthy food systems and obesogenic environments.

Our engagements spanned key thematic areas:

• Policy innovations, including sugar taxation and mandatory front-of-pack labelling
• Built environment design that encourages physical activity
• Breakthrough medical interventions, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, that are transforming clinical approaches to weight management

But the strongest consensus was this: Prevention must remain the frontline of the global obesity response.

Stowelink Foundation’s work reflects this priority. Across our public health campaigns, digital innovations, and policy advocacy, we are embedding obesity prevention within broader NCD strategies. Our approach is rooted in behavioral insights, youth engagement, and systems thinking—ensuring our interventions are both locally relevant and globally informed.

ECO 2025 reaffirmed the urgency of our mission. As we move toward the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs in September 2025, we commit to continuing our advocacy so that Africa is not just included but centered in global health strategies.

The work continues. And our resolve, strengthened by global collaboration, remains unwavering.