The 67th World Health Assembly (WHA) began on May 19 in Geneva, Switzerland, and will continue for a total of 6 days. Wen-Ta Chiu, Taiwan’s Minister of Health and Welfare, is leading a delegation of 25 people to attend the assembly. At 5:40 PM local time on May 19, the Taiwanese delegation commenced bilateral talks with the U.S. delegation, exchanging their experiences in health promotion and preventive care. The U.S. delegation expressed high approval of Taiwan’s brilliant achievements in healthy weight loss. They were interested in adapting Taiwan’s successful experience to the United States to ensure the health of more Americans. 

Wen-Ta Chiu proudly stated that this was the pride of all the people of Taiwan and has been one of Taiwan’s most important contributions since it was first invited to the WHA in 2009. Shu-Ti Chiou, Director-General of the Health Promotion Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated that Taiwan has strongly promoted activities for healthy weight loss over the past three years. Weight loss of 600,000 kg was originally planned for each activity, but has unexpectedly surpassed 1,000,000 kg each year. On average, each participant has successfully lost 1.5 kg in fat. This is a stunning achievement. 

Shu-Ti Chiou indicated that healthy weight loss is a health policy that countries throughout the world wish to promote. However, no countries had done so successfully previously because of its difficulty. Although Italy made substantial efforts, it was barely able to stabilize women’s weight, which neither rose nor decreased. Taiwan’s success in overcoming these difficulties has made it the first and only country to reduce the weight of its people through large-scale activities. No wonder it has received a great deal of attention from the United States. Kathleen Sebelius, the leader of the U.S. delegation and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, repeatedly praised Taiwan’s achievements in this area during yesterday’s bilateral talks. Ms. Sebelius expressed interest in learning from Taiwan and introducing these successful experiences. Shu-Ti Chiou revealed to the U.S. delegation that Taiwan successfully used healthy weight loss activities to reduce the weight of participants. In addition to constructing an environmental monitoring system for causes of obesity with 19 indicators, these activities also developed the healthy eating and exercise habits of the participants. As a result, the participants improved in 15 of the 19 indicators, with only 4 not improving. Naturally, the participants in the healthy weight loss activities were able to lose excess fat and improve their own health. 
Wen-Ta Chiu stated that the high approval from the U.S. delegation was a remarkable achievement for Taiwan. Minister Chiu stated that the people of Taiwan should be proud and promote their achievements vigorously. He also thanked Ms. Sebelius for her strong support for Taiwan over the past several years. In 2011, when disagreement existed internationally regarding Taiwan becoming an observer of the World Health Organization, Ms. Sebelius publicly expressed during an interview with reporters that “no organization of the U.N. has a right to unilaterally determine the position of Taiwan.” This left a deep impression on the Taiwanese people. To thank Ms. Sebelius for her long-term goodwill and support for Taiwan, Wen-Ta Chiu personally invited her yesterday to attend the Global Health Forum in Taiwan, which will be held in Taipei on November 30 and December 1 of this year, to share her rich experience on the international medical and public health stage. Shu-Ti Chiou stated that although this year will be Ms. Sebelius’s last time leading a delegation to the WHA, she will forever be a friend of Taiwan.