BeijingMay 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On the occasion of Obesity Day, May 11, the “Scientific Weight Loss, Healthy Lightness” weight management public welfare campaign launched in Beijing. A themed salon titled “In Search of a Light Life” was held concurrently, inviting cross-sector guests to engage in an in-depth dialogue on the diverse connotations of a “light life,” exploring how to proactively manage health through scientific methods in an “era of overload” and rediscover a balanced lightness of body and mind.
This marks the third consecutive year that Novo Nordisk has launched a public welfare science education initiative on obesity on Obesity Day. Through an integrated online and offline approach, the campaign aims to solidly disseminate disease knowledge while advocating a positive, sustainable lifestyle, helping the public embrace a healthy and light life.
Three-Year Evolution: From Cognitive Awakening to Ecological Synergy in Public Welfare
As a complex chronic disease, obesity has become a severe global public health challenge. In China, the proportion of obese adults stands at 20.1%, and the combined rate of overweight and obesity among adult residents has reached 56.9%[1]. Obesity has become the sixth leading risk factor for death and disability in China[2]. However, public awareness of obesity as a chronic disease and its associated health problems remains insufficient, and the current state of diagnosis and treatment is far from optimistic.
In response to these challenges, Novo Nordisk is committed to changing the world’s perception of obesity as a disease, as well as the ways to prevent and treat it. Since 2024, Novo Nordisk has launched public welfare science education initiatives during Obesity Day for three consecutive years, continuously exploring and upgrading its public welfare approach. This journey began with systematic education on the causes and harms of obesity, sounding the first call for cognitive awakening around “scientific weight loss.” It then moved beyond traditional one-way science education models to advocate translating long-term scientific intervention concepts into daily actions, gradually fostering a favorable environment of “everyone participates, everyone benefits,” allowing scientific knowledge to truly enter public life and effectively enhance national awareness of obesity prevention and treatment.
This year, the public welfare initiative deepens further, themed “In Search of a Light Life,” expanding to encompass comprehensive dimensions of physical and mental health and a light life. Through diverse online science education initiatives linked with offline activity scenarios, it fully interprets the “triple lightness” of body, mind, and life, advocating a proactive pursuit of a healthier, more positive attitude towards life. This signifies that Novo Nordisk’s public welfare practice has extended from simple disease education to a profound transmission of the concept of a healthy, light life.
Cross-Sector Dialogue: Interpreting the Diverse Connotations of a “Light Life”
The “In Search of a Light Life” roundtable dialogue brought together actor Yan Yikuan, writer and psychological counselor Zhang Chun, Dr. Ke Jing, attending physician at the Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Rheumatology Medical Center of Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University, and representatives of obesity patients. Drawing from physiological, psychological, and social perspectives, the cross-sector guests engaged in a deep and inspiring conversation. Through the progressive “Three Questions on Lightness,” the guests confronted the dual physical and mental dilemmas faced by people with obesity, deconstructed the pressures commonly experienced by the public in the current era, and jointly outlined feasible paths towards a light life.
Dr. Ke Jing, attending physician at the Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Rheumatology Medical Center of Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University, stated: “Obesity is a complex chronic disease. Patients not only face a series of health risks but also often bear a significant psychological burden. As medical professionals, we hope to help more people correctly understand obesity and break down prejudices through professional science education and standardized diagnosis and treatment. Scientific weight loss is never just about a decrease in the number on the scale; it’s about relieving the burden on the body and building a solid foundation for long-term health.”
Zhang Chun, writer and psychological counselor, further analyzed the psychological plight of obesity patients, pointing out: “When people describe ‘repeated failures in weight loss,’ they often forget that it is also ‘repeated success.’ People tend towards negative perceptions for various reasons and fall into a vicious cycle of ‘self-blame – anxiety – loss of control – self-blame.’ Attributing obesity to a lack of willpower is a blind worship of ‘willpower,’ a disregard for objective reality, and a misunderstanding and harm that ignores differences in genetics, metabolism, and environment. The mind constantly tells the body, ‘You shouldn’t exist like this,’ creating a tense, even hostile, relationship between body and mind. I urge everyone to be gentle with themselves, to treat the body as a suffering companion to be soothed, not as an adversary to be conquered. Unlock the shackles and release the lightness.”
Addressing widespread societal systemic pressures, actor Yan Yikuan shared his observations and insights as a public figure, saying: “Physical and mental health is the cornerstone of a long-term career. True lightness stems from a balance of mind and body, not from passively adapting to external voices and standards. Learning to listen to your body’s signals, acknowledging your own health needs, and adjusting your lifestyle accordingly is the first step towards physical and mental lightness.”
Science Education Pop-Up: Unlocking New Knowledge in Scientific Weight Management
The pop-up event also featured five interactive experience zones: “Health Light Passerby,” “Decoding Food Noise,” “Light Energy Field,” “GLP-1 Book of Answers,” and “Light House.” These zones helped the public understand the causes and harms of obesity in an immersive experience, unlock scientific weight loss solutions, and provided one-stop, professional, scientific weight loss support—from cognition to action—through precise body measurements and personalized health consultations.
Among them, the “Light House” scientific weight loss experience space attracted public attention, becoming a highlight on city streets. Co-built by Novo Nordisk and its extensive network of retail pharmacy partners, the “Light House” is equipped with professional body fat measurement devices, allowing residents to conveniently conduct weight health self-checks at any time. It also serves a health education function, helping residents establish scientific weight management concepts. Additionally, systematically trained pharmacists and health advisors can provide residents with initial consultations, medication guidance, and ongoing follow-up management support. Currently, 1,000 Light Houses have been established in retail pharmacies nationwide.
Furthermore, scientific treatment methods are particularly crucial in the long-term management of obesity. GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), represented by semaglutide, have become key therapeutic tools in managing obesity and its complications, providing a powerful scientific weapon for the long-term health management of obesity patients. In 2024, Novo Nordisk introduced semaglutide injection (brand name: Wegovy®), the world’s first once-weekly GLP-1 RA for chronic weight management, to China. In 2025, Wegovy® received approval for a cardiovascular indication in China. As the only weight loss drug proven to both reduce weight and lower the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), Wegovy® can reduce the risk of MACE (cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke) by 20%[3].
Beyond the Pill: Building a Full-Cycle Obesity Prevention and Control Ecosystem
Currently, patients are becoming more proactive in managing their obesity, actively seeking knowledge about the disease and its treatment, and participating in disease management decisions. Therefore, Novo Nordisk is actively building a new business model encompassing “online + offline, in-hospital + out-of-hospital” across all scenarios and channels, getting closer to patients’ real needs. From disease education, prevention, diagnosis, and standardized treatment to long-term health management, it provides patients with comprehensive support “beyond the pill,” empowering them to proactively manage their health and become the primary person responsible for their own well-being.
Novo Nordisk continues to deepen collaboration with healthcare professionals, helping to systematically build a standardized diagnosis and treatment system for obesity and weight management. It actively promotes business model transformation, partnering with multiple online healthcare platforms to jointly construct a full-cycle digital obesity prevention and control system, enhancing the accessibility and convenience of high-quality medical and health services. Simultaneously, by expanding cooperation with retail pharmacies, it strives to create an integrated weight management ecosystem linking “hospitals, communities, and families.”
Zhou Caiping, Senior Vice President of Novo Nordisk and President of Novo Nordisk Greater China, stated: “Novo Nordisk has been conducting research in the field of obesity treatment for 30 years. We deeply understand that in this long-term battle to change obesity, establishing scientific awareness is the first step to spurring action. For Novo Nordisk, our actions are always centered on the real needs of patients—wherever the patients are, that’s where we go. Novo Nordisk looks forward to continuing to join hands with all sectors, driven by innovation and supported by the ecosystem, to continuously contribute to the development of obesity prevention and treatment in China. We aim to break down prejudice with the power of science and drive change through societal understanding, helping patients embrace their own light lives.”
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[2] 《Obesity Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines (2024 Edition)》 |