The National Obesity Action Plan Playbook contributes to advancing policy and national action on obesity by providing policymakers with a practical framework for designing and strengthening national strategies to prevent and manage obesity. Drawing on WHO guidance, global expertise, and case studies, it identifies key action areas and highlights best practices for tackling obesity’s systemic drivers through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.

Best practice 1 – Australia waives a Goods and Services Tax for certain foods, including fruits and vegetables and incorporates financial incentives to encourage the purchase and consumption of essential healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and dairy.

Best practice 3 – Spain stands out by not only emphasising the need for improved labelling of processed foods to promote healthier eating, but also connecting this discussion to the broader food system. Specifically, it aligns with the European “Farm to Fork” strategy which aims to make food systems “fair, healthy, and environmentally-friendly.”

Best practice 4 – The UAE reinforced restrictions on advertising by taking a legal approach that reviews advertising legislation to evaluate its effectiveness and implementing strict enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance.

Best practice 5 – Australia integrated healthy eating into school curricula and implemented zoning policies to reduce the number of fast-food outlets near schools.

Best practice 2 – Mexico's sugar-sweetened beverage tax reduces sugary drink consumption and increases water spending, while encouraging smaller portions and lower sugar, sodium, and fats in processed foods.

Best practice 1 – Australia integrated its national physical activity guidelines into its national obesity plan, providing specific recommendations tailored to different age groups, while also linking physical activity initiatives to reduced screen time.

Best practice 3 – Spain implemented policies to adapt school spaces and facilities to meet the physical activity needs of all students, including “activating” these spaces for use outside of school hours and non-term periods.

Best practice 2 – Mexico focuses on diversifying public spaces for physical activity in cities like Mexico City, Puebla, and Guadalajara, such as through pedestrianising streets and building bike lanes.

Best practice 4 – South Africa has planned programmes like the Indigenous Games Festival and the National Golden Games promote physical activity while fostering inclusivity and celebrating cultural heritage.

Best practice 1 – South Korea focused on targeted interventions across all ages, including puppet theatre for toddlers, "Planting Health Buds" for preschoolers, "Healthy Caring Playground" for older children, and public lectures for adults to promote healthy eating, physical activity, and obesity prevention.

Best practice 3 – Australia prioritised tackling weight stigma by implementing social marketing campaigns that used inclusive language and imagery. The plan also recognises the need to carefully test and evaluate social marketing and communications on their use of appropriate language, imagery and messages to avoid weight stigma and potential for adverse impacts while encouraging healthy eating and physical activity.

Best practice 2 – South Africa engaged local community leaders as role models to promote healthy lifestyles. These efforts focus on fostering grassroots-level engagement to ensure community ownership and sustainable impact on physical activity habits.

Best practice 3 – The UAE has multi-professional teams deliver coordinated care for obesity management, aligned with existing clinical guidelines.

Best practice 1 – France focuses on workforce capacity training within its Centres Spécialisés de l’Obésité (Specialist Centres for Obesity), equipping healthcare professionals with multidisciplinary skills in nutrition, physiotherapy, and mental health, while prioritising professional development in therapeutic education, integrated care, and paediatric obesity management.

Best practice 2 – South Korea provides structured management plans for individuals with severe obesity, while also emphasising the importance of management around lifestyle factors such as stress, sleep, and alcohol use.

Best practice 1 – Australia consistently updates its National Child Measurement Programme, offering detailed insights into obesity trends by age, gender, and deprivation levels.

Best practice 2 – South Africa is notable for explicitly incorporating monitoring and evaluation at its plan's conception to ensure policies are effective and remain on-track.

Best practice 1 – Australia funds obesity management through its Medicare Benefit Scheme and National Health Reform Agreement, covering services like dietitians, psychologists, and exercise physiologists.

Best practice 2 – South Africa offers a well-defined breakdown of resource requirements for each policy measure in the mid- and end-term, ensuring transparency.