assessing the state of obesity care: quality, access and standards

i have been working in the field of obesity research, education and advocacy for over a decade. in that time, i have seen the field of obesity change significantly. in canada, the obesity community has come together through  obesity canada  where the perspectives of researchers, health professionals, policy makers and people living with obesity is strengthened not just by numbers but by its very diverse nature. you would think that with over 30,000 members and supporters (from across disciplines, sectors, cultures and geographical regions) coming to consensus on anything would be impossible. however, it all depends on how you look at things. from my perspective, obesity canada’s unique value is the contributions of our diverse members and supporters. our mission to improve the lives of canadians through research, education and advocacy is what unites us. we all want to see a day when people affected by obesity are understood, respected and living healthy lives.

as a country, we are not doing well when it comes to providing  access to evidence-based and person-centered care  for individuals living with obesity. part of the reason for this is that  obesity is misunderstood . people with  obesity are treated unfairly  and this is increasing health and social inequities. but as scientists, health professionals and people affected by obesity we are now better prepared to  change the obesity narrative  and to  eliminate the bias and stigma .

at obesity canada, we believe that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. to this end, obesity canada works toward reducing weight bias and stigma through research, education and advocacy. we facilitate knowledge exchange regarding prevention, treatment and policy. last month, i participated in an international meeting on  the state of obesity care  in virginia, usa. this three-day meeting was hosted by  the obesity society .

this section  has been written/provided  by obesity canada with the goal of educating canadians. the content on the website is intended for educational and informational purposes only. the content is not intended to provide medical advice and, to the extent that medical advice is required, users should consult with qualified medical professionals.

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