Japan Eli Lilly Concludes Memorandum with Japan Society for the Study of Obesity
Japan Eli Lilly and the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity signed a memorandum on April 30, 2026, to promote industry-academia collaboration for public health through obesity research and countermeasures. The agreement aims to advance obesity measures in Japan by promoting prevention, improving access to appropriate medical care, and resolving misconceptions about obesity.
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- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 02:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 17:32
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Japan Eli Lilly K.K. (Headquarters: Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Simone Thomsen; hereinafter, Japan Eli Lilly) and the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity (Chairman: Iichiro Shimomura; hereinafter, JSSO) concluded a "Memorandum on Industry-Academia Collaboration for the Promotion of Public Health through Obesity Research and Countermeasures" on April 30, 2026.
This memorandum aims to promote obesity measures in Japan through initiatives to advance obesity prevention across the life course, improve access to appropriate medical care, and resolve misunderstandings regarding obesity and obesity-related diseases. Through this collaboration, Japan Eli Lilly and JSSO aim to contribute to the promotion of public health and the sustainability of Japan's healthcare system.
(From left in photo) Simone Thomsen, Iichiro Shimomura
**[Key Initiatives of This Collaboration]**
This memorandum outlines comprehensive initiatives by Japan Eli Lilly and JSSO, collaborating to address challenges surrounding obesity, focusing on prevention, development of healthcare delivery systems, and promoting understanding of obesity and obesity-related diseases. The main collaboration contents are as follows:
**Promotion of Obesity Prevention Across the Life Course**
Considering health challenges at each life stage, we will work to create an environment that supports the formation of healthy lifestyle habits and the maintenance of appropriate weight.
**Strengthening Collaboration for the Development of Healthcare Delivery Systems**
We aim to establish a smooth flow from health check-ups to medical consultation and specialized treatment, and to improve access to appropriate medical care for those in need, under a healthcare delivery system that ensures safety and quality of care. Furthermore, we will promote the dissemination and improvement of quality of standardized treatments through multidisciplinary and multi-organizational collaboration.
**Resolution of Misunderstandings Regarding Obesity and Obesity-Related Diseases**
We will provide information based on scientific evidence regarding the multifactorial nature of obesity and effective prevention and treatment, thereby reducing barriers to medical consultation and support caused by misunderstanding and prejudice, and contributing to correcting social disadvantages.
**[Background to the Conclusion of This Memorandum]**
JSSO is an academic organization that, under the philosophy of "working on the prevention and treatment of obesity in Japanese people to create a 'healthy Japan'," positions obesity as a chronic disease requiring medical treatment and engages in research on obesity and obesity-related diseases, formulation of diagnostic criteria and clinical guidelines, promotion of prevention and treatment, and social awareness activities.
On the other hand, Japan Eli Lilly aims to contribute to the promotion of public health and ensure the sustainability of Japan's healthcare system by building comprehensive treatment pathways for obesity, promoting related research, and fostering recognition and understanding among healthcare professionals and society.
Based on the shared ideas between JSSO's philosophy and Japan Eli Lilly's purpose, this memorandum was concluded with the aim of promoting obesity measures in Japan and improving and enhancing related systems.
Iichiro Shimomura, Chairman of the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity, commented: "Obesity is a chronic disease caused by a combination of factors such as diet and exercise quantity and quality, as well as constitution, living environment, and psychological and social factors, making it sometimes difficult to resolve through one's own efforts alone. This memorandum aims for industry and academia to cooperate, based on correct knowledge, to promote understanding of obesity and create an environment where prevention can easily lead to medical care. Through this collaboration, we hope to contribute to creating a 'healthy Japan' by promoting understanding of obesity and moving closer to a society where everyone can safely access necessary prevention, support, and medical care."
Simone Thomsen, Representative Director and President of Japan Eli Lilly, stated: "This memorandum with the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity is an important step towards steadily and continuously advancing obesity measures in Japan. Japan Eli Lilly will leverage the knowledge and experience cultivated in the obesity field to support the creation of an environment where people with obesity can easily access appropriate support and medical care through collaboration with JSSO. Furthermore, by contributing to the promotion of correct understanding of obesity and advancing initiatives from prevention to medical consultation and treatment, we will contribute to the promotion of obesity measures in Japan."
**[Background Surrounding Obesity]**
Obesity is a chronic disease that medically requires treatment, defined as obesity (BMI ≥ 25) accompanied by health disorders caused by or related to obesity. It is closely linked to risks such as high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes, and also contributes to increased medical costs, loss of employment opportunities, and hindrances to extending healthy life expectancy. Factors leading to obesity are complex, involving not only lifestyle habits but also genetics, environment, physical, psychological, and social factors, making it difficult to resolve through one's own efforts alone. Meanwhile, it is pointed out that there is a misconception in society that "obesity is due to a lack of self-control." To address these challenges, we will disseminate information based on academic knowledge and collaborate with relevant parties.
This memorandum aims to promote obesity measures in Japan through initiatives to advance obesity prevention across the life course, improve access to appropriate medical care, and resolve misunderstandings regarding obesity and obesity-related diseases. Through this collaboration, Japan Eli Lilly and JSSO aim to contribute to the promotion of public health and the sustainability of Japan's healthcare system.
(From left in photo) Simone Thomsen, Iichiro Shimomura
**[Key Initiatives of This Collaboration]**
This memorandum outlines comprehensive initiatives by Japan Eli Lilly and JSSO, collaborating to address challenges surrounding obesity, focusing on prevention, development of healthcare delivery systems, and promoting understanding of obesity and obesity-related diseases. The main collaboration contents are as follows:
**Promotion of Obesity Prevention Across the Life Course**
Considering health challenges at each life stage, we will work to create an environment that supports the formation of healthy lifestyle habits and the maintenance of appropriate weight.
**Strengthening Collaboration for the Development of Healthcare Delivery Systems**
We aim to establish a smooth flow from health check-ups to medical consultation and specialized treatment, and to improve access to appropriate medical care for those in need, under a healthcare delivery system that ensures safety and quality of care. Furthermore, we will promote the dissemination and improvement of quality of standardized treatments through multidisciplinary and multi-organizational collaboration.
**Resolution of Misunderstandings Regarding Obesity and Obesity-Related Diseases**
We will provide information based on scientific evidence regarding the multifactorial nature of obesity and effective prevention and treatment, thereby reducing barriers to medical consultation and support caused by misunderstanding and prejudice, and contributing to correcting social disadvantages.
**[Background to the Conclusion of This Memorandum]**
JSSO is an academic organization that, under the philosophy of "working on the prevention and treatment of obesity in Japanese people to create a 'healthy Japan'," positions obesity as a chronic disease requiring medical treatment and engages in research on obesity and obesity-related diseases, formulation of diagnostic criteria and clinical guidelines, promotion of prevention and treatment, and social awareness activities.
On the other hand, Japan Eli Lilly aims to contribute to the promotion of public health and ensure the sustainability of Japan's healthcare system by building comprehensive treatment pathways for obesity, promoting related research, and fostering recognition and understanding among healthcare professionals and society.
Based on the shared ideas between JSSO's philosophy and Japan Eli Lilly's purpose, this memorandum was concluded with the aim of promoting obesity measures in Japan and improving and enhancing related systems.
Iichiro Shimomura, Chairman of the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity, commented: "Obesity is a chronic disease caused by a combination of factors such as diet and exercise quantity and quality, as well as constitution, living environment, and psychological and social factors, making it sometimes difficult to resolve through one's own efforts alone. This memorandum aims for industry and academia to cooperate, based on correct knowledge, to promote understanding of obesity and create an environment where prevention can easily lead to medical care. Through this collaboration, we hope to contribute to creating a 'healthy Japan' by promoting understanding of obesity and moving closer to a society where everyone can safely access necessary prevention, support, and medical care."
Simone Thomsen, Representative Director and President of Japan Eli Lilly, stated: "This memorandum with the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity is an important step towards steadily and continuously advancing obesity measures in Japan. Japan Eli Lilly will leverage the knowledge and experience cultivated in the obesity field to support the creation of an environment where people with obesity can easily access appropriate support and medical care through collaboration with JSSO. Furthermore, by contributing to the promotion of correct understanding of obesity and advancing initiatives from prevention to medical consultation and treatment, we will contribute to the promotion of obesity measures in Japan."
**[Background Surrounding Obesity]**
Obesity is a chronic disease that medically requires treatment, defined as obesity (BMI ≥ 25) accompanied by health disorders caused by or related to obesity. It is closely linked to risks such as high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes, and also contributes to increased medical costs, loss of employment opportunities, and hindrances to extending healthy life expectancy. Factors leading to obesity are complex, involving not only lifestyle habits but also genetics, environment, physical, psychological, and social factors, making it difficult to resolve through one's own efforts alone. Meanwhile, it is pointed out that there is a misconception in society that "obesity is due to a lack of self-control." To address these challenges, we will disseminate information based on academic knowledge and collaborate with relevant parties.