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World Obesity Federation Policy and Projects Coordinator Claudia Selin Batz tells us about her organization and its role in public policy

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Claudia, and I have a background in Public Health with four years of experience in using communications and advocacy to influence public policy. I am particularly passionate about finding solutions to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the globe. I am currently pursuing a role at the World Obesity Federation managing communication and dissemination activities for two EU-funded childhood obesity projects – CO-CREATE and STOP. Through this, I have been fortunate to fulfill my passion to consistently incorporate the perspectives of young people into the development and refinement of policies, fostering partnerships and convening stakeholders to ensure that public policy is more inclusive and equitable.

How does the World Obesity Federation support and evaluate underrepresented communities in the field of public policy?
By 2030, 1 billion people are projected to be living with obesity. Over the past decade, we have learned a lot about its root causes, clearly exemplifying that a variety of factors, including biology, mental health, genetic risk, and food environments play a role in an individual’s likelihood of gaining weight. Regardless of this, in many countries, people living with obesity are regularly blamed for their disease. Weight stigma perpetuates the idea that obesity is solely the fault of the individual. It harms people's emotional and physical health, as well as hinders them from seeking medical care. 

At World Obesity, we call this behavior out and collaborate with experts, advocates, youth, patients, and practitioners in high-medium and low-income nations to address the systemic bias that hinders the adoption of healthier habits. We make it a point to integrate a diverse range of perspectives in the global response to obesity, as well as in the development of policy measures. Our flagship campaign, World Obesity Day, is held on March 4 every year, and it is just one of the ways we use our platform to support people throughout the world who are calling for change.

What is the theme of World Obesity Day this year?
The topic for this year's World Obesity Day is "Everyone Needs to Act." The Federation and its members are urging action to halt rising levels of obesity, to shift narratives that perpetuate weight bias, and to create healthier societies. Our message to governments around the world is straightforward: a fragmented response, a lack of ambition, and inaction harm those who most need support. Because the ramifications may be experienced across society, we must unite again and take measures at the local, national, and global levels. 

When everyone works together, we have already seen glimmers of optimism. We have achieved significant milestones in our collaborative advocacy to secure momentum on global obesity policy and action over the last year. The World Health Organization has recently adopted recommendations for the prevention and management of obesity and is working on an Obesity Acceleration Plan to help achieve global obesity targets. We should now ensure that these initiatives are grouped into a single package to provide a global, coordinated, and comprehensive response to obesity.

What action do you commit to this World Obesity Day? How will the Public Policy New Voices Europe Programme support you in achieving this goal?
At a personal level, I commit to elevating obesity within broader discussions about NCDs. After we saw that living with obesity increases the risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19 infections, it has received significant attention, but there’s more work to be done. I will continue to facilitate these discussions and support youth advocates who are striving to build a healthier future for us all – after all, I was at the start of my advocacy journey not too long ago, I can resonate with them! 

The Public Policy New Voices Fellowship will equip me with a theoretical understanding of policy processes and structures, but also serve as a platform to share my experiences working in a civil society organization and with young people to transform policy.

And finally, how can one get involved in World Obesity Day?
To learn more and get involved in World Obesity Day you can visit our campaign website here. We have compiled case studies and resources with three target audiences in mind: people living with obesity, healthcare professionals, and employers. The team has also created editable social media materials and guidelines for anyone planning activities.