Empowering Global Fitness

Translating UN Commitments on NCDs, Mental Health, Obesity and Physical Activity into
Coordinated Global Action

At the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), world leaders adopted a historic
political declaration on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health. For the first time,
a UN declaration explicitly recognized physical activity as a core, cost-effective health
intervention, a milestone that validates World Active’s founding mission and positions our
member associations as essential partners in global health implementation.

Representing the global fitness, wellness and sports-association network, World Active Chair
Amy Boone Thompson attended UNGA80 in New York, where she joined high-level dialogues
that placed NCDs, mental health, and obesity at the center of international health priorities.

The Global Health Reality

1. NCDs such as cardiovascular disease, cancers, and diabetes caused roughly 43 million
   deaths in 2021, 82% of them in low- and middle-income countries.
2. Mental-health conditions affect over one billion people globally.
3. By 2035, obesity could impact more than four billion people, over half of humanity.
4. Only one in three adults meets recommended activity levels, and 81% of youth remain
   inactive.
5. World Active was founded amid the pandemic with a simple yet powerful mission: More
   people. More active. More often. At UNGA80, that vision became global policy.

Four UNGA80 Events: Insights and Implications

1. Breaking the Silence: Centering Children and Young People
   (Hosted by St Kitts & Nevis and UNICEF)
   Youth delegates spoke candidly about living with diabetes, depression, and obesity, emphasizing
   that behind every statistic is a story. Initiatives such as Caribbean Moves and SKN Moves
   showcased how cross-sector partnerships can embed movement into daily life and reduce cost
   barriers.
   For World Active members, these lessons reinforce the value of community-based programs
   and youth-driven design to strengthen both physical and mental health outcomes.

2. No Health Without Mental Health: A Shared Commitment
(Organized by WHO, Wellcome Trust, and United for Global Mental Health)

Speakers affirmed that mental health is integral to overall wellbeing. Five key priorities emerged:

1. Address social determinants of health.
2. Decriminalize and prevent suicide.
3. Shift to community-based care.
4. Invest in child and adolescent services.
5. Regulate industries that harm mental health (tobacco, alcohol, social media, ultra-
   processed food).
   These recommendations align with World Active’s focus on mental-health literacy and
   referral pathways across fitness and wellness environments.

3. Global Obesity Forum 2025: Four Billion Reasons for Urgent Action
(Led by World Obesity Federation, WHO, and UNICEF)

By 2035, more than four billion people could be obese, costing the global economy US$4
trillion annually. The Forum urged policymakers to treat obesity as a core NCD policy issue,
not an isolated condition.

Solutions include food-system reform, urban design for activity, and stigma-free
communication, principles mirrored in World Active’s holistic approach that integrates exercise,
nutrition, and behavioral support.

4. WFSGI Celebration: Moving the World Towards a Healthy and Active Future
(Hosted by the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry)

Leaders from brands including New Balance, Nike, adidas, ASICS, Decathlon, and Speedo
celebrated the UN’s recognition of physical activity as a health intervention.

WFSGI CEO Emma Zwiebler called inactivity a “silent crisis,” warning that related healthcare
and productivity losses could exceed US $300 billion by 2030. Speakers urged cross-sector
collaboration to deliver on the WHO Global Action Plan on Physical Activity.

Interconnected Determinants: The Call for Systems Change

Across all discussions, a single theme emerged: mental health, obesity, and inactivity are
inseparable. Children are especially vulnerable to ultra-processed diets, digital pressures, and a
lack of safe play spaces.

Experts called for confronting the commercial determinants of health through regulation,
taxation, labelling, and marketing restrictions. Equity, dignity, and lived experience must guide
all programs, ensuring no community is left behind.

World Active’s Strategic Leadership Agenda

1. Co-design with Youth and Communities – Embed lived experience in policy and
   program design.
2. Integrate Mental-Health Support – Train fitness professionals in mental-health first aid
   and trauma-informed practice.
3. Address Obesity Holistically – Combine exercise with nutrition, behavioral science, and
   advocacy.
4. Advocate for Active Environments – Support walkable cities, school programs, and
   cost-reduction models.
5. Champion Equity and Affordability – Partner with public and private sectors to expand
   access.
6. Build Cross-Sector Alliances – Collaborate with WHO, UNICEF, UnitedGMH, WOF,
   and WFSGI.
7. Advance Evidence and Accountability – Collect and share data transparently to
   measure progress.

Member Spotlight: Czechia Active Foundation

World Active member Czechia Active Foundation shows how national fitness organizations
can implement the WHO Global Action Plan on Physical Activity through its Active
September (Aktivní září) campaign, coordinated with the Czech Chamber of Fitness and the
Czech Olympic Committee.

In 2025, more than 1,100 events engaged communities nationwide, from school challenges to
corporate wellness programs. The initiative demonstrates how the fitness sector can unite health,
education, business, and local government to drive sustained participation and deliver
measurable health outcomes.

From Aspiration to Imperative

UNGA80 marked a turning point in global health policy, one that places movement, mental
health, and equity at its core.
World Active Chair Amy Boone Thompson reaffirmed the network’s commitment to lead this
transformation: convening associations, sharing best practices, and advocating with WHO and
UNICEF to realize the vision of more people, more active, more often.

The time for action is now.

References
 WFSGI – World’s Leading Sports Brands Celebrate Physical Activity Recognition by
United Nations
 WHO – Political Declaration on Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health
 World Obesity Federation – Leaders Are Failing on Obesity—and the World Cannot
Afford It
 UNICEF – UN General Assembly Campaigns
 United for Global Mental Health – 4th HLM on NCDs and Mental Health
 Wellcome Trust – Rethinking the Future of Global Health
 World Active – www.world-active.com
 IDEA Health & Fitness Association – www.ideafit.com
 Czech Active Foundation – www.komorafitness.cz
 Czech Chamber of Fitness – www.aktivnicesko.cz
 Czech Olympic Committee – www.olympic.cz