On March 4th 2026, the world will commemorate World Obesity Day under the theme, “8 Billion Reasons to Act on Obesity”. The Healthy Caribbean Coalition has recognized World Obesity Day as a prominent moment for regional advocacy focusing largely on the multilayered response needed to address obesity.
Over the last 5 years, HCC’s World Obesity Webinars have explored the systematic changes required to address obesity through the topic’s relevance to the most recent UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health- the Caribbean Journey to the UN High Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health (2025); the role of the school environment– Let’s talk about Obesity &… (2024) and supporting and engaging those with lived experience –Childhood Obesity in the Caribbean – How do we care for the 1 in 3? (2023).
On World Obesity Day on March 4th 2021, Paediatrician’s from across the Caribbean released an Open Letter – We need to Act now to Protect Caribbean Children and Youth – raising alarm about the concerning health behaviors among young people during the COVID-10 pandemic. The letter drew attention to significant mental and physical changes observed among their patients, warning that the region was on the “cusp of a regional childhood obesity and mental health emergency”. The letter outlined clear recommendations for Governments, private sector, civil society, youth advocates, parents and guardians, pediatricians and caregivers to support the health and wellness of children and youth.
Five years later much has changed and yet, much has remained the same.
- Childhood Obesity rates continue to rise rapidly across the region with 3 million children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 19 being overweight; The Bahamas (17.3 per cent) and Dominica (15 per cent) have the highest burden of obesity among this age group.
- Unhealthy diets remain a key driver in childhood obesity. The Paediatrician’s letter highlighted a concern with the increased access to foods high in salt, sugar and fat during COVID. This wide accessibility and availability of these foods, largely categorized as ultra-processed products, continues to be an issue today. At the same time, there has been increased research and awareness around the harms of ultra processed products, most recently with the launch of Lancet Series: Ultra-Processed Foods and Human Health. Conversely, the Caribbean was named the region with the highest cost of a healthy diet in 2022 based on a report by FAO and partners. In 2025, the affordability of a healthy diet was noted to have improved based on a report by FAO and partners. However, a healthy diet was still regarded as having one of the “highest costs compared to other regions”.
- Policy and Programmatic Progress has been made through local and regional multisectoral interventions. Barbados and Jamaica have been identified as the two countries to participate in the WHO Acceleration Plan to Stop Obesity. Countries across the region are also exploring the implementation of evidence-based policies to support healthy eating including comprehensive School Nutrition Policies in Barbados, Jamaica and soon-to-be-launched policy in Trinidad and Tobago. There has also been accelerated dialogue on Commercial Determinants of Health and the influence on the policy inertia in the region.
- Global Advocacy Action for action on key obesity drivers has continued through efforts like the most recently concluded 4th UN High Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health and its outcome document – Political Declaration.
While progress has been made, critical gaps remain — particularly in making healthy diets more affordable, recognizing the power of early interventions (e.g. breastfeeding), addressing persistently low levels of physical activity across the region, and strengthening meaningful collaboration among key multisectoral stakeholders, including the media.
The World Obesity Day 2026 webinar offers a space for reflection and strategic discussion on the way forward.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the webinar are to:
- Review the key elements of the 2021 ‘Now more than Ever – We need to Protect Caribbean Children and Young People’s Open Letter
- Discuss ongoing challenges and progress in addressing childhood obesity across the Caribbean, including policy implementation
- Highlight global progress that has been made since the launch of the Call to Action including:
- the release of the Lancet Series – Ultra Processed Foods and Human Health, consolidating definitive evidence on the harmful impact of UPPs on health and
- 4th UN High Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health – Political Declaration
- Highlight multifaceted interventions that have been implemented across the region to address childhood obesity and innovative strategies that should be considered moving forward