Obesity has become one of the greatest public health challenges of the modern world. More than 1 billion people worldwide, including 163 million children and adolescents, live with obesity. In Georgia, as in many other countries, these individuals face a double burden: alongside physical and medical problems, they also struggle with stigma, isolation, emotional distress, and most importantly, a lack of psychosocial support.
A 2024–2025 national study conducted by the Alliance for the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases (with the support of the NCD Global Alliance) revealed that 66% of people living with NCDs in Georgia do not have access to psychological counseling or peer support. For people living with obesity, this problem proved to be especially acute and sensitive. Despite this clearly defined and urgent need, there is still no structured support system for people living with obesity in Georgia.
In response, the Georgian NCD Alliance has launched the country’s first support initiative for people with overweight and obesity. The “Champions of Healthy Lifestyle” platform is free and volunteer-based: on the one hand, it provides a safe space for mutual support and empowerment, and on the other hand, it connects specialists (endocrinologists, psychologists, health coaches, fitness trainers, nutritionists, and others) with patients who need guidance.
When developing our advocacy strategy for the prevention and management of NCDs together with healthcare specialists and experts, one of the key challenges identified was the promotion and adoption of healthy lifestyles in society. Therefore, we began applying principles of change management and a bottom-up approach. Our aim is to create champions and groups that will change social norms in favor of healthy lifestyles within the community.
Based on lessons learned and experiences gained during piloting, we developed a new vision and plan for scaling (expansion into the regions). This also includes selecting personality-matched facilitators for groups and providing them with tailored preparation and training.
For a long time, obesity was viewed only from a medical perspective, and the transformative power of the community often went unnoticed. But when people come together, they create not only social support — they create shared strength, collective responsibility, and hope. In an era where loneliness and alienation are widespread, we must remember that human connection itself is a remedy.
The community is the place where health becomes a reality: where people feel understood, where stigma is replaced by solidarity, and where knowledge is translated into daily practice.
Our experience shows that when you provide a person with a safe space to share their struggles and celebrate their progress, prevention becomes sustainable, and change becomes contagious.
The implementation of this vision is made possible by a win–win platform: specialists who are willing to share their knowledge and skills on a volunteer basis, and beneficiaries who are ready to learn, practice, and transform their lives. Platforms like this are especially vital in countries with limited and scarce resources.
This is a partnership of equals: where professionals find meaning in service, and individuals find strength in knowledge and shared experience. Together, this creates outcomes that no single clinic or institution could achieve alone. Most importantly, the ultimate result is educating society and changing social norms to promote and embed healthy lifestyles — for a healthier community overall.
