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takes place on 4 March 2026, with a focus on childhood obesity. The reason is simple: childhood obesity is rising rapidly, with the prevalence among school-aged children increasing from 4% in 1975 to almost 20% in 2022. The rise is sharpest in low- and middle-income countries. Obesity in childhood often continues into adulthood, increasing the risk of serious non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. Concerningly, early signs of chronic diseases are already appearing in children today. 

Obesity doesn’t occur in isolation. Poverty, stigma, unequal access to education and treatment, limited availability of healthy food, and environments that do not support healthy living all contribute to rising childhood obesity and the risk of disease later in life. Today, over 1 billion people including 159 million children are living with overweight and obesity, and that number is projected to rise to 4 billion by 2035 – putting even more people at risk of NCDs

The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s 2026 Atlas will shine a spotlight on childhood obesity as a defining equity and systems challenge—one that reflects not individual failure, but environments, policies, and systems that are failing children. The Atlas also highlights the importance of comprehensive action for childhood obesity, including in primary health care as part of universal health coverage (UHC). Indeed, World Obesity Day 2026 takes place at an important time as momentum starts to grow towards the third UN High-Level Meeting on UHC.

This Global Obesity Coalition event aims to change the story on obesity:

• from blame to responsibility,
• from inevitability and neglect to prevention and care, and
• from fragmented action to accountable, multisectoral solutions.

By bringing together governments, youth leaders, people with lived experience, and UN partners, the event will highlight how evidence-based policy, meaningful participation, and accountability can drive real change for children everywhere.