Organizations that recognize obesity as a chronic disease

Obesity is a chronic disease. Let’s make sure everyone recognizes it.

These respected health organizations have all officially declared that obesity is a chronic disease—one that deserves medical attention, just like any other chronic health condition. 

Provincial Medical Associations

Doctors of BC

“Doctors of BC recognize obesity to be a chronic disease requiring enhanced research, treatment, and prevention efforts.”

Alberta Medical Association

“That the AMA recognizes obesity to be a chronic medical disease requiring enhanced research, treatment, and prevention efforts.”

Saskatchewan Medical Association

“That obesity be recognized as a chronic disease in Saskatchewan and be given appropriate attention and corresponding funding.”

Ontario Medical Association

“That the OMA declare that obesity is a chronic medical disease requiring enhanced research, treatment, and prevention efforts.”

New Brunswick Medical Association

Motion passed. October 2, 2021 Official notification pending.

Newfoundland & Labrador Medical Association

Motion passed. June 5, 2021 Official notification pending.

Yukon Medical Association

“The Yukon Medical Association recognizes obesity as a chronic medical disease requiring enhanced research, treatment, and prevention efforts.”

Medical Associations

Canadian Medical Association (CMA)

“The Canadian Medical Association recognizes obesity as a chronic disease.”

World Health Organization (WHO)

“Obesity is often defined simply as a condition of abnormal or excessive fat accumulation in adipose tissue, to the extent that health may be impaired.”

American Medical Association (AMA)

“Recognizing obesity as a disease will help change the way the medical community tackles this complex issue that affects approximately one in three Americans.”

Ontario Medical Association

“That the OMA declare that obesity is a chronic medical disease requiring enhanced research, treatment, and prevention efforts.”

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)

“…obesity is a primary disease, and the full force of our medical knowledge should be brought to bear on the prevention and treatment of obesity as a primary disease entity.”

The UK Royal College of Physicians

“Obesity is a chronic progressive disease caused by an imbalance between energy intake and energy expended, with a wide range of damaging effects on the body.”

Obesity Associations

Obesity Canada (OC)

“Obesity is a prevalent, complex, progressive, and relapsing chronic disease, characterized by abnormal or excessive body fat (adiposity) that impairs health.”

World Obesity Federation (WOF)

“The World Obesity Federation takes the position that obesity is a chronic, relapsing, progressive disease process and emphasizes the need for intermediate action and the prevention and control of this global pandemic.”

European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO)

“A progressive disease, impacting severely on individuals and society alike, it is widely acknowledgerd that obesity is the gateway to many other disease areas.”

The Obesity Society (TOS)

“It is the official position of the Obesity Society that obesity should be declared a chronic disease.”

Canadian Obesity Advocacy Network (COAN)

“Obesity is a complex chronic disease that deserves to be treated seriously in the same way as other chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.”

National Association of Clinical Obesity Services (NACOS)

“The National Association of Clinical Obesity Services (NACOS) recognizes obesity with health impairment as a chronic disease.”

Parliament

Portugal, Ministry of Health

Portugal blazed a trail when it recognized obesity as a chronic disease and a priority public health issue in 2004.

Sweden, Ministry of Health

“Overweight and obesity is a risk factor for a number of diseases and is one of the main causes of lost healthy life years in Sweden. Obesity is also a chronic disease in itself. Overweight and obesity are increasing in all groups, but are also unevenly distributed.”

Germany, Ministry of Health

“Today, a very important milestone has been reached for obesity sufferers: the recognition of their disease by the German Bundestag” – July 2020

Italy, Ministry of Health

“The recognition of obesity as a chronic disease to a national plan that harmonizes the activities in the field of prevention and the fight against obesity.”

European Commission

“Pre-obesity (overweight) and obesity are medical conditions marked by an abnormal and/or excessive accumulation of body fat that presents a risk to health. Obesity is a chronic relapsing disease, which in turn acts as a gateway to a range of other non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.”

HSE Ireland

“Obesity is a complex, chronic, multifactorial disease that requires a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to care across the lifespan.”

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Obesity Canada respectfully acknowledges that our work takes place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island, which includes the lands now known as Canada. Our national office is located on Treaty 6 territory, the traditional lands of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux, and Nakota Sioux, and the homeland of the Métis.

We recognize the enduring presence, cultures, and contributions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities and acknowledge the ongoing impacts of colonialism, including systemic barriers to health equity. As we work to improve the lives of people living with obesity, we commit to listening, learning, and taking meaningful action to advance reconciliation, health justice, and culturally safe care for all.

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