Obesity Canada is Canada’s only registered health charity focusing on obesity research, education and advocacy. Obesity Canada leads action teams to support the development of an Obesity National Care Framework in Canada focussing on four areas; research, education, policy and community. Obesity Canada’s mission is to improve the lives of Canadians living with obesity through identified areas by working with Canadian obesity experts, patient advocates, policy makers and private – and public-sector partner organizations. 

The Canadian Obesity Fellowship Program was created by Obesity Canada in 2023 with a purpose to advance obesity research in Canada. The program and associated award criteria’s have been developed to connect and engage new and emerging academic researchers with an opportunity to conduct obesity-related research to support the development of a national obesity care framework. 

Obesity Canada will be supporting researchers with a focus on providing advancement to evidence-based obesity management. This includes environmental and socio-cultural determinants; behavioral and biological determinants; secondary prevention, management and rehabilitation; and health economics and policy. Individual award criteria may differ. 

Funding for the Canadian Obesity Fellowship Program is obtained by various methods, including industry. Any industry partners associated will not have any influence or say on the decision-making process. 

If you have any questions regarding this call for applications, please contact us. 

Current Available Awards: 

Obesity Canada is providing funding for 2 (two) $30,000 CAD postdoctoral fellowship awards (to be matched by the university/supervisor for a total of $60,000).

These awards are intended for individuals who are currently a postdoctoral fellow affiliated with Canadian Universities who are undertaking obesity research and supervised by a full-time faculty member employed at a Canadian University. Funding must be used to match Canadian institutional funding for $30,000 per award. A minimum of 50% of the Canadian Obesity postdoctoral fellowship award must be dedicated directly to salary support directed by the university with the remaining funds to be available to the postdoctoral fellow for research related expenses. Existing agreements for the postdoctoral fellow through employment at their university would qualify as matched funding. 

Funding is available for a one year period effective May 1, 2023.

Research proposals may include, but are not limited to: obesity burden and related complications, impact of weight loss on obesity complications, secondary prevention, management and rehabilitation; and health economics and policy.

All applicants are reminded that to be successful for the award, they must be available to attend, in-person, the Canadian Obesity Summit, May 14-17, 2023. The successful applicant will give a presentation on their research project proposal at the Canadian Obesity Summit. Meeting registration, travel, hotel accommodations, and incidental expenses are the responsibility of the participant.

Application Requirements

• Individuals must have completed their PhD and/or MD
• Individuals must be affiliated with a Canadian University
• Institutional matched-funding (letter of verification on institution letterhead)
• A letter of support from your current supervisor
• Full curriculum vitae (a CIHR formatted bio-sketch is also acceptable)
• A four (4) page summary of research project including background, rational, method, and the anticipated impact on obesity care 
  • Font size to be no smaller than 12 with 1-inch margins
  • References and figures are not included in the four page count and attachments are possible

*All of your application documentation must be submitted in ONE PDF file. Your file should be renamed in the following format: [lastname][firstname][today’sdate]. Any files uploaded not in this format will NOT be accepted or kept on file.