Boehringer Ingelheim and WHO Foundation Launch Global Collaboration on Obesity and Metabolic Health
Boehringer Ingelheim and the WHO Foundation have initiated a three-year collaboration aimed at improving the management of obesity and related metabolic conditions, particularly in resource-limited settings. The initiative is supported by a $5 million contribution from Boehringer Ingelheim.
GENEVA – Boehringer Ingelheim and the WHO Foundation have launched a three-year collaboration to accelerate progress in addressing obesity and related metabolic conditions, with a focus on resource-limited settings. The partnership is backed by a $5 million contribution from Boehringer Ingelheim.
Obesity represents a significant global health challenge, with over 2.5 billion adults and 390 million children and adolescents worldwide affected by overweight or obesity in 2022. This collaboration aims to strengthen health systems' capacity to monitor and provide care for obesity and associated metabolic issues. It will also foster cross-sectoral approaches and ensure the meaningful involvement of people living with noncommunicable diseases in policy discussions.
"The scale and complexity of the challenge that obesity and metabolic health represent demand an integrated approach," stated Anil Soni, CEO of the WHO Foundation. "Through this collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim, we will enable countries to translate global evidence and guidance into integrated services that meet people's needs."
The initiative will support the WHO's efforts to implement its Action Plan for the Global Strategy to guide the implementation of the WHO recommendations on prevention and management of obesity (2022–2030). Boehringer Ingelheim emphasized that obesity and related metabolic diseases require coordinated, long-term care, and this collaboration seeks to translate global ambition into practical, sustainable change for both individuals and health systems.