Every child deserves a fair chance to grow up healthy.
Yet where children live, learn and play shapes what food is available, whether they can be physically active and their risk of developing chronic diseases later in life.
We believe prevention starts early. By working with local partners across sectors to create healthier environments and change the conditions that shape health, we can help prevent unhealthy patterns from taking hold, reduce the risk of needing treatment later in life and create lasting change for future generations.
100m children and underserved people reached by 2030
Our prevention work supports our ambition to reach 100 million children and underserved people with effective prevention and access to treatment by 2030.
Creating lasting change requires more than individual efforts. We work with governments, health authorities, communities, researchers and global partners to understand what works and create healthier environments for children.
Our approach is guided by health equity, evidence, strong partnerships, systems thinking and solutions that can be sustained and scaled.
We work alongside 50+ cities worldwide to help create environments where healthy choices are easier for children and families.
Learn more - Cities for better health
Childhood obesity is rising fastest in underserved communities. Through evidence-based interventions focused on nutrition and physical activity, we generate insights that help policymakers and governments take action where it is needed most.
Learn more - Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative
Since 2019, we have worked with UNICEF to address the systems that shape children’s health through transforming food environments, strengthening policies and supporting communities to create lasting change. Together, we aim to reach more than 80 million children, contributing to our overarching ambition of reaching 100 million children and underserved people by 2030.
World Obesity Federation. World Obesity Atlas 2026, Childhood Obesity. 2026. https://data.worldobesity.org/publications/?cat=24
Sassi F. Obesity and the economics of prevention. Books. 2010;
Plantinga AJ, Bernell S. The association between urban sprawl and obesity: is it a two-way street? Journal of regional Science. 2007;47(5):857–879.
World Health Organization. Physical Activity. Accessed March 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity