×

Novo Nordisk and UNICEF renew push to prevent childhood obesity

By Thomson Reuters Sep 22, 2026 | 7:05 AM

Sept 22 (Reuters) – Novo Nordisk and UNICEF have expanded their partnership to help ​prevent childhood overweight and ‌obesity, the Danish drugmaker said on Tuesday.

The expansion follows UNICEF’s 2025 Child Nutrition Report that found childhood ‌obesity ​had overtaken underweight ⁠for the first ⁠time on record.

• Novo will commit an additional $18 million from 2026 through 2030 to ​support prevention initiatives in Mexico, Colombia, Indonesia, the Philippines, ⁠India, Egypt ⁠and Kenya, Senior Vice ​President Elin Jäger told Reuters.

• This ​will include interventions such as ‌nutrition and physical activity counselling or basic mental health screening and support, Novo said.

• ⁠The four-year programme will run from 2027 to 2030, with funding starting ⁠in ‌2026, and aims to ⁠reach more than ​80 ‌million children.

• The expansion ​is part ⁠of Novo’s updated sustainability strategy launching next week, Jäger said.

(Reporting by Patrick Wingrove, writing by Vera Dvorakova; Editing by ​Milla Nissi-Prussak)