 | |  | | |  | | | Greetings OAC Community! We hope you are having a wonderful beginning to this beautiful fall season. Last month, we hosted our 12th annual Your Weight Matters Engage Convention in Orlando, FL, where we met with many members of our OAC Community who were eager to learn, connect and take action. If you missed the latest edition of our quarterly advocacy newsletter, ImpactNow, click here to read it and make sure you’re signed up to receive alerts about key advocacy issues. We have many exciting things in store for you this month, so keep reading to stay in the know on all the latest OAC news! | | | | | | | |  | | |  | | | Tackling Obesity: A Conversation with Football Legends Dick and Matt Butkus The OAC had the honor and pleasure of interviewing the late legendary Chicago Bears linebacker, Dick Butkus, and his son, Matt, for the Fall 2023 issue of Weight Matters Magazine. In the interview titled Tackling Obesity: A Conversation with Football Legends Dick and Matt Butkus, Mr. Butkus talked about his favorite memory on the football field, his personal experience with his health and his mission to help others through the Butkus Foundation’s Takes Heart™ initiative and the NFL Alumni Association’s Tackle Obesity Challenge. We offer our condolences to Butkus’ family, friends, teammates and the NFL Alumni Association. Mr. Butkus was undeniably a legendary figure, and his absence will be felt deeply while his memory lives on Read the interview here. | | | | | | | | | |  | | |  | | | Discovering the Power of Our Light at the Your Weight Matters Convention Last month, the Obesity Action Coalition had the pleasure of hosting our 12th annual Your Weight Matters Convention – a three-day, in-person event designed to equip attendees with the tools needed to take charge of their weight and health and shape a better world for people with obesity. The theme of the YWM2023-Engage Convention was “The Power of Our Light,” presenting the pivotal question to attendees, “How will you use your light?” The goal of the weekend was for attendees to walk away knowing how they can leverage each of their unique strengths to make meaningful change for people living with obesity. YWM2023-Engage Convention proved that the OAC Community is an unstoppable force for change. Together, we will use the power of our collective light discovered during the Convention to ignite change for people with obesity across the world. Read the recap. | | The NFL Alumni Association Launches its Tackle Obesity Challenge The NFL Alumni Association (NFLA) has launched its Tackle Obesity Challenge, coinciding with the kickoff of the NFL season! The Tackle Obesity Challenge offers a great opportunity to get coached by NFL Alumni who have faced weight-related struggles, just like many others. The initiative presents wellness options in an environment of positivity, encouragement, and compassion. The Tackle Obesity Challenge exists for the health and well-being of people living with obesity who are willing and ready to take action. The program is free and open to the public, running through December of 2023. Learn more. | | Watch OAC’s Fresh Perspective on Lipedema and Obesity Have you ever wondered what lipedema is and how it’s different from obesity? In this episode of Fresh Perspectives, OAC chats with the Lipedema Foundation's Professional Education Manager, Courtney Henderson, MS. Tune in to learn about the chronic disease of lipedema and how it differs from obesity, along with treatment options and resources for patients and their doctors. Watch the episode. | | Watch the Replay: OAC Health Talk on Male Issues in Mental Health and Obesity 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 talk about the mental health and obesity-related concerns that affect men. He will also discuss the obstacles and difficulties in accessing care and offer insights on how to overcome them. Watch the replay. | | | | | | | | Community Perspectives: A Father and Son’s Take on Weight and Health This month, we spotlight OAC Board Member Ahn-Vu Pham and his father, bariatric surgeon Dr. Dang Tuan Pham. In their interview, the duo discuss their personal and professional approaches to weight management, why men often address their health differently than women and differences in attitudes toward weight between generations. Read their story. | | | | | | | | | |  | | |  | | | Thank You, Intuitive and Calibrate, For Your Continued Support of OAC’s Chairman’s Council We are pleased to share that Intuitive and Calibrate have renewed their support for the OAC's Chairman Council! We are honored that Intuitive has chosen to support our organization at the Silver level and that Calibrate has chosen to support us at the Patron level. We strive to partner with industry leaders who share our mission of supporting and empowering individuals in their health journeys. The OAC welcomes ANY individual, organization or company who wishes to join our highest level of OAC Membership and receive maximum benefits. Our Chairman’s Council is an excellent way to give back to the cause and play an integral role in making the world a better place for people with obesity. Learn more about OAC’s Chairman’s Council. | | | | | | | | | |  | | |  | | | Make a Big Impact with a Monthly Gift OAC Monthly Donors are a special group of our most valued supporters dedicated to helping us improve the lives of millions of individuals affected by obesity. Our Monthly Giving Program works by allowing you to make small, automatic donations every month, which makes it easier for the OAC to plan long-term, budget more efficiently and create life-changing outcomes. Become a monthly donor today. | | | | | | | | 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. | | | | | | | | | | | |
