Leaders call for united approach to obesity treatments

A coalition of international health and fitness organisations, including ukactive, is calling on governments and health systems to ensure obesity medications are delivered alongside funded physical activity and nutrition support, rather than as standalone treatments.

The World Obesity Federation, ukactive, the Health & Fitness Association, AUSactive, Exercise New Zealand and the Fitness Industry Council of Canada have issued a joint position statement outlining a global framework for integrating prevention, treatment and long-term health outcomes. With almost three billion adults worldwide currently overweight or living with obesity, projected to reach four billion by 2035, the organisations stress that while medications such as GLP-1 therapies represent a major clinical advance, they must be embedded within comprehensive care models.

The statement warns that reliance on medication alone risks poorer long-term outcomes, including muscleloss, reduced functional capacity and widening health inequalities where access to support services is limited. Instead, it advocates a ‘wraparound’ approach combining pharmacological treatment with sustained investment in physical activity, nutrition and supportive environments. It also calls for obesity medications to be integrated into care pathways that include funded lifestyle support, alongside prevention and community programmes.

Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive (who stepped down in April), said: “The rise of obesity medications must not be viewed as a substitute for physical activity and nutrition when in fact it heightens the need for these vital elements.”