SOUTH AMERICA
Cali
Joined the programme in 2025
Cali became the third Colombian city to join the Cities for Better Health global network in 2025, through a collaboration between the Secretariat of Health of Cali, the Embassy of Denmark in Colombia and Novo Nordisk Colombia. The partnership aims to strengthen local efforts to prevent obesity, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by working directly with communities to create healthier environments and expand opportunities for active living and overall well-being.
The challenge in Cali
Cali faces rising levels of chronic disease linked to changing diets, low physical activity and increasing weight-related health risks. Local data shows high levels of overweight and obesity among adults and children, and many residents report inadequate dietary patterns, increasing the risk of NCDs. These challenges underscore the need for prevention efforts that bring together healthier food, active living and mental well-being in the neighbourhoods where people live.
Key facts and figures
54%
of Cali residents live with overweight or obesity1
16.7%
of schoolchildren live with overweight2
18.6%
of schoolchildren live with obesity2
89.1%
of residents report inadequate dietary patterns1
About the programme
Cities for Better Health in Cali is initially focused on Comuna 16, the Mariano Ramos neighbourhood, where partners are piloting a community-based approach that combines nutrition education, physical activity and mental well-being. Implemented from June to December 2025, phase 1 of the intervention aligned with the district policy, “Entorno a tu salud”, to focus on promoting movement and building healthier community environments.
Promoting active living and healthy habits
The initiative offers free physical activity sessions and community workshops that help residents integrate daily movement into their lives. Activities for children and adolescents combine sport, learning and play, including the development of a football-based methodology designed to improve both physical and emotional health. The programme aims to reach 100 children and adolescents through these tailored educational and physical activities.
Nutrition workshops provide families with practical tools to improve their diets, and mental health sessions offer support to reduce stress and strengthen resilience. Fifty adults from the community will participate in sessions designed to improve quality of life and promote healthier habits.
Co-creation and capacity building
A core component of the programme is capacity building within the community. Twenty-five youth community leaders are being trained to replicate activities and support the sustainability of the initiative, creating a foundation for long-term impact beyond the initial phase. Their involvement strengthens local ownership and ensures that health-promoting activities continue to evolve within the neighbourhood.
The activities are held in public and community spaces throughout the neighbourhoods, as well as in local learning environments that provide safe and accessible settings for education and physical activities. By working closely with residents and community partners, Cali is helping build environments where healthy choices become easier and more accessible for everyone.
“A core pillar of the project will be training community leaders to strengthen local capacities and ensure the continuity of initiatives that promote healthy environments through physical activity, nutrition and mental well-being, in alignment with the district policy 'Entorno a tu salud' of the Secretary of Health.”
– Germán Escobar, Secretary of Health of Cali
Partners
References
- Secretaría de Salud de Cali. “La diabetes se puede prevenir.” 13 November 2022. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://www.cali.gov.co/salud/publicaciones/172718/la-diabetes-se-puede-prevenir/
- Secretaría de Salud de Cali. “¡Comé bien! Comé consciente- más del 35% de los escolares en Cali tienen sobrepeso y obesidad.” 7 September 2022. Accessed December 4, 2025. https://www.cali.gov.co/salud/publicaciones/171306/come-bien-come-consciente-mas-del-35-de-los-escolares-en-cali-tienen-sobrepeso-y-obesidad/
