As obesity continues to rise, the global community has increasingly recognized that obesity is not simply a lifestyle issue at individual level, but a chronic disease requiring long-term, integrated care. Against this backdrop, the World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with China’s National Health Commission (NHC) and the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases (NCCD), convened a national Training-of-Trainers (TOT) programme on obesity management — marking an important step in advancing comprehensive obesity prevention and system-based approaches to care in China.
/countries/china/senior-leaders-and-participants-at-the-national-training-of-trainers-programme-on-obesity-management.jpg?sfvrsn=13613713_3 "Senior leaders and participants at the national Training-of-Trainers programme on obesity management")
Senior leaders and participants at the national Training-of-Trainers programme on obesity management.
Credit: National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases of China
The training brought together multidisciplinary participants from more than 20 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities across China, including government officials, clinicians, primary health care providers, and public health professionals. Participants are expected to help translate the training concepts into practice within their institutions and regions, promote cross-sector collaboration, and contribute to the development of future policy and implementation efforts.
The initiative comes at a time of growing momentum for obesity prevention and control in China. In recent years, China has launched a national weight management campaign, issued updated obesity diagnosis and treatment guidelines, expanded weight management services, and strengthened the role of healthy weight management within broader health system reforms.
From Weight Management Toward Health Governance
A central message throughout the training was that obesity prevention and management require a fundamentally different approach from short-term, fragmented interventions.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, WHO Representative to China Martin Taylor said: “Recognizing obesity as a chronic disease means recognizing the need for long-term, continuous, people-centered care. This includes strengthening primary health care capacity, improving referral systems, and integrating obesity management into broader noncommunicable disease prevention and control efforts.”
/countries/china/martin-taylor--who-representative-to-china--delivers-opening-remarks-at-the-training.jpg?sfvrsn=ef66117e_3 "Martin Taylor, WHO Representative to China, delivers opening remarks at the training")
Martin Taylor, WHO Representative to China, delivers opening remarks at the training.
Credit: National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases of China
The programme focused on how stronger health systems and practical service delivery capacity can support more effective obesity management. Topics included integrated chronic care models, diagnosis and goal setting, communication skills, multimodal care including behavioural and pharmacological intervention, long-term management and follow-up, and health system approaches that support sustainable implementation.
It was also emphasized at the training that clinical services alone will not be sufficient to reverse current obesity trends. Sustainable progress will also require broader prevention efforts and healthier food environments, supported by evidence-based policies that make healthy choices easier and more accessible, so that healthy behaviors can truly become a part of daily life.
/countries/china/participants-engage-in-group-discussions-during-the-training.jpg?sfvrsn=47e4e9b3_3 "Participants engage in group discussions during the training")
Participants engage in group discussions during the training.
Credit: National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases of China
From Training to System Transformation
The training not only strengthened participants’ technical knowledge and clinical confidence, but also highlighted the real-world challenges health systems face in advancing obesity management.
An evaluation conducted by the NCCD Healthy Lifestyle Medicine Center found strong motivation among participants to strengthen obesity management in their institutions and communities. The training also strengthened recognition that obesity should be managed as a chronic disease requiring long-term, coordinated care rather than isolated clinical interventions.
At the same time, participants identified important barriers to translating this commitment into routine practice, including workflow the time constraints, insufficient institutional support, and gaps in incentives and enabling policies.
These findings reinforced an important consensus emerging from the training: translating knowledge into impact requires supportive systems and enabling environments.
In practice, this means moving beyond fragmented interventions and stand-alone weight management service toward a coordinated model of prevention and care, where primary health care, hospitals, public health and community services work together to provide seamless support across the continuum - from early detection and treatment to long-term management and healthier lifestyles.
/countries/china/an-illustration-of-a-system-based-approach-to-obesity-prevention--care-and-treatment.png?sfvrsn=efddd8cf_3 "An illustration of a system-based approach to obesity prevention, care and treatment")
An illustration of a system-based approach to obesity prevention, care and treatment. Credit: WHO
Building the Foundation for Long-Term Collaboration and Global Action
This was the third WHO obesity management training globally and one of the key country-level efforts supporting implementation of the WHO Acceleration Plan to Stop Obesity.
The programme was developed and delivered through close collaboration among WHO Headquarters, the Regional Office and the Country Office, working together with national partners to adapt global guidance and training materials to the Chinese context.
For WHO and China’s health authorities, the programme was not only a capacity-building initiative, but also an important foundation for longer-term collaboration on obesity and noncommunicable diseases.
Building on this momentum, WHO will continue working closely with the National Health Commission, the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, and provincial partners to to strengthen obesity prevention and management through more integrated and system-based approaches.
/countries/china/participants-engage-in-a-training-lecture.jpg?sfvrsn=6dc11696_3 "Participants engage in a training lecture")
Participants engage in a training lecture. Credit: National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases of China
At the same time, China’s experience in advancing integrated approaches to obesity prevention and care may also offer valuable lessons for other countries. As more countries face rapidly rising obesity and NCD burdens, building more continuous, integrated, and sustainable obesity management systems is becoming an increasingly important global public health priority.
“We know what works,” Martin Taylor said. “The task now is to deliver it — consistently, at scale, and for those who need it most.”