Represent!
by Lisa Schaffer "We cannot be what we do not see." I cannot recall exactly where or when this phrase came to me but it has become core to who I am and how I approach life. Living with obesity is complicated. [...]
Message from the Public Engagement Chair, September 2019
This month has me thinking a lot about the importance of community. I recently attended the Your Weight Matters convention, one of the largest public events in the U.S. for people living with obesity. The event allows attendees to connect with experts, [...]
The Power of Advocacy for Positive Change
by Melody Harding On a brisk evening in Autumn 1999, my dad and step-mother took me to Sears to find my first underwire bra. I wandered shamefully through the aisles, trying to understand this new development. After trying probably 15 to 20 [...]
Living with Obesity in the Family
by Kelly Moen It was a family affair. We were asked to talk about what life is like parenting while living with obesity. My wife and I flew out to Copenhagen to speak at Novo Nordisk's DEEPtalk program about parenting when living [...]
Representation Matters
We are seven months into 2019, and there is an undeniable momentum building here at Obesity Canada (OC). Progress is happening and there are positive shifts around the conversations about obesity. OC continues to work with stakeholders around the globe, and here [...]
Obesity Canada Joins HEAL: Organizations for Health Action
Obesity Canada recently became a member of HEAL: Organizations for Health Action, a national coalition of more than 40 organizations that advocate for action on significant health issues. HEAL uses a consensus-based approach that highlights the collective expertise and impact of the [...]
We’ve Got This: A Personal Take on International Advocacy
By Kelly Moen Let me start at the beginning. "You're fat because you eat too much. You need to eat less and move more." This is the mantra I have heard my entire life, yet the advice has little to no effect [...]
Celebrating Big Steps in Advocacy
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 [...]
OC Parliamentary Reception a Success
On April 29, 2019 Obesity Canada representatives were on Parliament Hill to meet with members of parliament and advocate on behalf of individuals living with obesity for increased access to treatment and recognition of obesity as a chronic disease. In total, OC [...]
Ask the Expert Issue #6: OC Public Engagement Committee
Next month, the subject of our “Ask the Expert” will be our dedicated and passionate patient advocates of the Obesity Canada Public Engagement Committee (PEC). These individuals all have their own lived experience with obesity and work to advise Obesity Canada and [...]