Novo Nordisk and Tencent Health Launch Strategic Partnership to Build a Digital Obesity Prevention and Control Ecosystem

Novo Nordisk, a global leader in obesity treatment, and Tencent Healthcare have announced a strategic partnership. Against the backdrop of the national “Weight Management Year” initiative, the two parties will leverage the “Tencent Healthcare” mini-program on the WeChat platform and the authoritative medical science popularization platform “Tencent Medical Dictionary” to create a one-stop “Weight Management Knowledge and Services Zone.” This initiative aims to help the public understand healthy weight standards, master weight management methods, and manage their weight scientifically, while supporting early diagnosis and treatment for individuals with obesity by improving access to obesity diagnosis and care.

Novo Nordisk and Tencent Healthcare Enter into Strategic Partnership

Currently, approximately 180 million adults in China are affected by obesity.¹, and its prevalence continues to rise. Public awareness remains insufficient regarding obesity as a chronic disease requiring treatment and long-term management, the health problems associated with obesity, and specialized diagnosis and treatment options. Furthermore, patients with obesity often attribute their condition to personal responsibility, leading them to attempt weight loss on their own. This delays seeking professional help and may even result in more serious health issues due to inappropriate methods. Therefore, it is particularly important for patients with obesity to acquire disease-related knowledge and seek standardized, professional diagnosis and treatment.

Long-term weight management for patients with obesity requires a multifaceted approach, and the prevention and control of obesity demand collaborative efforts from multiple stakeholders. As a global leader in biopharmaceuticals driven by R&D innovation, Novo Nordisk has pioneered and led the medical treatment of obesity, building on more than 25 years of scientific research in this field. Novo Nordisk is committed to providing integrated solutions to offer comprehensive, long-term support throughout patients’ weight-loss journeys. Tencent Healthcare, upholding its mission of “Connectivity for Health, Technology Empowering Medicine,” leverages core technologies such as Tencent Cloud, big data, and artificial intelligence, with WeChat as the connecting platform, to build a digital health management infrastructure serving hundreds of millions of users.

Amid the wave of digital and intelligent transformation in the healthcare sector, this collaboration leverages new digital infrastructure as its foundation. By deeply integrating the complementary strengths of both parties, a comprehensive, full-cycle obesity prevention and control system has been established. Relying on the “Weight Management Knowledge and Services Zone,” the two parties will jointly create a one-stop service platform featuring disease education, healthy weight assessment, medical facility mapping, and online appointment scheduling. This initiative aims to seamlessly connect online and offline healthcare service scenarios, forming a user-centric closed-loop service ecosystem, thereby enhancing the accessibility and convenience of high-quality healthcare services.

Weight Management Knowledge and Services Zone

The “BMI Calculator and Obesity Risk Assessment Questionnaire” allows users to input multidimensional data such as height, weight, and waist circumference to generate personalized health reports, facilitating early screening and risk alerts. Furthermore, the “National Map of Specialized Obesity Medical Institutions” provides real-time connectivity to the online appointment registration systems of nearly 500 certified hospitals in China’s first batch, enabling a seamless transition from health assessment to offline diagnosis and treatment.

Zhou Xiaping, Senior Vice President of Novo Nordisk and President of Greater ChinaHe stated, “As the country implements multiple obesity prevention and control measures and public health awareness rises, weight management is gradually becoming a ‘mandatory health course’ for more people. Addressing obesity requires systematic, integrated solutions. As a pioneer and leader in the global field of obesity treatment, Novo Nordisk not only provides innovative therapeutic options but also unites multi-stakeholder efforts to explore new models and integrate new technologies, building an ecosystem that ‘drives change and joins hands to conquer obesity.’ China’s internet development ranks among the most advanced globally. We are delighted to collaborate with Tencent Healthcare to combine professional insights with cutting-edge technologies in smart healthcare scenarios, jointly enhancing awareness of obesity across all sectors, fostering disease prevention consciousness, and facilitating early diagnosis and treatment of obesity.”

Tencent HealthcarePresident Wu WendaHe pointed out, “Medical science popularization has gradually enhanced public understanding of obesity. The World Health Organization (WHO) has long classified obesity as a ‘chronic relapsing disease’ in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). However, building a weight management service system characterized by precise prevention and control and broad social participation requires active engagement from multiple stakeholders. Leveraging its platform capabilities serving hundreds of millions of users and diverse leading digital technologies, Tencent Healthcare is exploring a people-centered, full-chain system integrating ‘precise science communication, intelligent services, and diversified incentives,’ ultimately facilitating a shift from ‘passive medical care’ to ‘proactive health.’ We are delighted that Tencent Healthcare has partnered with Novo Nordisk to drive innovative exploration in support systems for obesity prevention and control.”

This collaboration not only explores innovations in healthcare service models but also leverages internet platforms to extend the reach of scientific prevention and treatment concepts to a broader population. By combining Tencent Healthcare’s digital service capabilities with Novo Nordisk’s expertise and century-long legacy of innovation in managing severe chronic diseases, both parties will work together to drive the transformation of obesity prevention and treatment from a “disease-centered” approach to a “health-centered,” full-cycle management model. As a significant innovative practice, this synergistic “Internet + Healthcare” model will inject new momentum into the construction of a Healthy China.

Novo Nordisk, founded in 1923, is a global leader in biopharmaceuticals.，Headquartered in Denmark. Building on a century-long heritage in the field of diabetes, our mission is to drive change and work together to defeat serious chronic diseases. To achieve this goal, we lead scientific breakthroughs, expand access to our medicines, and are committed to preventing and ultimately curing diseases. Novo Nordisk has approximately 76,300 employees in 80 countries and regions worldwide, providing products and services to approximately 170 countries and regions around the globe. Novo Nordisk China Official Website:http://www.novonordisk.com.cn

Tencent is a world-leading internet and technology company that enhances the quality of life for people around the globe through innovative products and services. In the healthcare sector, Tencent has consistently upheld its mission of “Technology Empowering Healthcare, Connectivity Promoting Wellness,” leveraging technology to safeguard public health and drive continuous social value innovation. On one hand, using the “Tencent Healthcare” mini-program as a platform, it empowers individuals by integrating various health service components—including information access, appointment scheduling, consultations, medication purchases, and payments—to achieve an integrated online-to-offline medical and healthcare service ecosystem. On the other hand, it facilitates the smart transformation of governments, hospitals, medical institutions, and pharmaceutical enterprises through digital solutions.

References:

1.Zhao, H., Jia, R. and Leng, A. (2022) ‘EPH55 the prevalence of obesity and its implications in China: A narrative review of literature’, Value in Health, 25(12). doi:10.1016/j.jval.2022.09.977.

This article was supported by Novo Nordisk.