Today, on World Obesity Day 2025, we turn our attention to an issue that affects millions of lives worldwide—but this time, we are shifting the focus. Obesity is not an individual failure. It is a systemic issue. And if we truly want to create healthier lives, we must address the systems that are failing us.
For too long, the conversation around obesity has placed the burden on individuals, promoting the idea that weight loss is simply a matter of willpower. This narrative is not only incorrect but also harmful. Obesity is a complex, chronic disease influenced by a web of factors—health systems, government policies, food accessibility, media narratives, and the environments we live and work in. These systems must change if we are to reverse the rising global obesity rates.
Recognizing Obesity as a Disease
A crucial step toward progress is recognizing obesity as a disease rather than a lifestyle choice. Science has shown us that obesity is a medical condition influenced by genetics, metabolism, hormones, and environmental factors. Yet, despite this knowledge, many healthcare systems still fail to provide adequate prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for people living with obesity.
To create meaningful change, we must:
✔ Establish monitoring and surveillance systems to track and address obesity as a public health priority.
✔ Integrate obesity prevention and management into national healthcare programs, particularly within primary care settings.
✔ Ensure access to obesity care through insurance coverage, universal health packages, and equitable healthcare policies.
✔ Train and resource healthcare professionals to deliver comprehensive, evidence-based obesity treatment.
Beyond Prevention: Access to Effective Treatment
While prevention is key, we must also acknowledge that millions of people already living with obesity need access to effective treatment. This includes medical management, nutritional counseling, behavioral therapy, and when necessary, bariatric surgery—which remains the most safe, effective, and long-term treatment for severe obesity.
Bariatric surgery is not a last resort—it is a proven medical intervention that can improve or even resolve obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Yet, many patients struggle to access this life-changing procedure due to restrictive insurance policies, lack of trained professionals, and outdated perceptions about obesity treatment.
A Call for Change
This World Obesity Day, I stand with patients, healthcare professionals, and advocates worldwide in calling for systemic change. We must transform our health systems to provide the care that people with obesity deserve. Governments, policymakers, healthcare institutions, and society as a whole must work together to remove barriers and ensure that obesity is treated like any other chronic disease.
If we want to build a healthier future, we must stop blaming individuals and start changing the systems that are setting them up for failure. Let’s work together to create a world where people with obesity receive the care, respect, and treatment they need to thrive.
Dr. Louisiana Valenzuela
Board-Certified Bariatric Surgeon
