 | |  | | |  | | | Greetings OAC Community! As the Fall season approaches, we are thrilled to bring you another action-packed OAC Insider. September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, providing a chance for all of us to learn more about this serious health condition affecting more than 14.4 million children and teens in the U.S. While there is no simple solution, there are many ways communities can support children with their journey to good health. Keep reading to learn more. Plus, we are just days away from our annual Your Weight Matters Engage Convention in Orlando, FL. (Will we see you there?) And, in other exciting news, OAC has expanded to more than 80,000 members! Thank you to each and every one of you who make up our OAC Community. Continue reading to learn about all of the exciting things we have in store for you this month! | | | | | | | |  | | |  | | | Recognizing Childhood Obesity Awareness Month September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and the OAC is dedicating this month to educating and supporting children affected by obesity and their families! Today, more than 14.4 million children and teens in the U.S. are affected by obesity, making it the most common chronic disease of childhood. Childhood obesity can be a sensitive and complex topic, which is why we’ve developed a toolbox of resources to help children and families navigate their unique health journeys. We encourage you to view and share these important resources to learn more about childhood obesity and ways to promote health and wellness in our families. Explore the toolbox. | | | | | | | | | |  | | |  | | | WATCH: OAC on Capitol Hill in Support of TROA OAC President & CEO Joe Nadglowski and Director of Policy Strategy & Alliances Tracy Zvenyach recently visited Capitol Hill in support of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA). OAC is meeting with key representatives to secure additional co-sponsors of TROA. Watch to learn more about OAC’s advocacy work and take action now.
| | OAC Health Talk: Male Issues in Mental Health and Obesity | LIVE on Thursday, September 28 at 7 p.m. ET Overall, men have higher rates of overweight and obesity than women but are often less likely to seek outside help for care and treatment. Similarly, men are less likely than women to seek help for their mental health. In this OAC Health Talk, behavioral expert and bariatric specialist Paul Davidson, PhD, will address the issues men face when it comes to mental health and obesity, including the challenges, barriers in finding care and how to overcome them. Sign up for free. | | OAC Fresh Perspectives: Why Aren’t Medications Fully Tested in People with Obesity? Clinical trials test potential treatments in human volunteers to see whether they should be approved for wider use in the general population, but many clinical trials for medications and devices exclude people with larger bodies. Excluding people with obesity and severe obesity is an example of explicit weight bias that can cause real harm. OAC and other obesity advocates recently met with the Food and Drug Administration’s Commissioner Robert Califf to voice this concern. In this episode of Fresh Perspectives, OAC President & CEO Joe Nadglowski and Vice President & Chief of Staff James Zervios discuss the details of the meeting, how OAC is fighting weight bias and what you can do to help make an impact for people with obesity. Watch now. | | Celebrating 16 Years of Hard Work and Dedication with Lisa Gresco-White Happy Workiversary to the one and only Lisa Gresco-White! Lisa has dedicated 16 outstanding years of hard work to OAC.
Lisa is OAC's Senior Membership and Operations Manager, responsible for serving the needs and interests of our members. With a strong emphasis on support, she also devotes her time to the creation of new and ongoing support opportunities for OAC’s members, along with the management of OAC’s volunteer base.
Please join us in thanking Lisa for her extraordinary hard work and continued dedication to OAC. We look forward to working with her for many years to come! | | | | | | | | Maria Caprigno's Story: 13 years after bariatric surgery, a 27-year-old says it changed her life This month, we spotlight Maria Capringo, a long-time OAC Member. In her interview with NPR, Maria shares her experience with weight bias as a child and undergoing bariatric surgery at age 14. Read Maria's story. | | | | | | | |  | | |  | | | More Than Weight Loss: How Mounjaro Is Helping Patty Nece Regain Her Mobility In an article published on Verywell Health, OAC’s Immediate-past Chair, Patty Nece, JD, shared how she is advocating for people with obesity to get full access to weight loss medications without guilt and shame. Read more. | | | | | | | |  | | |  | | | Support Essential Education During Childhood Obesity Awareness Month Throughout Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and beyond, our commitment to providing essential education wouldn’t be possible without the support of individuals like you. Join us in making a positive impact on the lives of children and families by ensuring they have the tools and knowledge they need to thrive. By donating to the OAC, you directly contribute to the creation of these resources and help us reach even more families in need. Make a donation today to continue empowering our Community. | | | | | | | | Obesity Action Coalition
4511 North Himes Ave., Suite 250 | Tampa, Florida 33614
(800) 717-3117 | [email protected] | | | | | The Obesity Action Coalition is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating and empowering individuals affected by obesity through education, advocacy and support. We work to raise awareness of and eliminate weight bias and discrimination in healthcare, education, media and the workplace; fight to improve access to science-based treatment and care of obesity for those who choose to seek it; and provide support through education and community events. | | | | | | | | | | | |
