Hello! Spring is in full swing and the Obesity Canada team is back on track after the 6th Canadian Obesity Summit. Our time in Ottawa was action packed and has put into motion some very exciting activities for us and the work we are doing to change the conversation about obesity.
During the Summit, Obesity Canada released the Report Card on Access to Obesity Treatment for Adults in Canada 2019. In 2017 we released our first report card, and sadly the results of the 2019 show very little progress has been made in the advancement of access to treatments or the recognition of obesity as a chronic disease. These findings are disappointing and confirm the systemic bias and misunderstanding of obesity in Canada. There is much work to be done and we need the collective voice of the over 8 million Canadians living with Obesity to join us and demand better. We have launched a simple and impactful way for everyone to add their voice with a one-click campaign that will allow you to share key information and demand better from their elected representatives.
Ottawa was also the backdrop of Obesity Canada’s first ever public workshop. The Public Engagement Committee (PEC) hosted over 150 participants for a full day that included an array of speakers, panel discussions, exhibits and interactive discussions. The sense of community in the room was inspiring and impactful, with many of the participants joining our campaign on site. The feedback from participants has been amazing and we are excited at the potential of taking these workshops to cities across Canada. Stay tuned!
Our week in Ottawa wrapped up with a day of meetings and a reception on Parliament Hill. Armed with the 2019 Report Card OC staff, board members and PEC volunteers spent the day sharing our personal stories and fostering relationships with several members of parliament.
The week was full of education from world leaders in the field of obesity science, several opportunities to advocate for much needed change in Canada with key stakeholders and countless moments of inspiration of what is possible.
Please join our campaign efforts and let your elected officials know that this is an important issue. We need your voice. Together I know we can make an impact!
Lisa Schaffer
Chair, OC Public Engagement Committee
