November 24th, 2020 |  |
It's the season of giving thanks... and as Thanksgiving Day approaches, now is a great time to pause and reflect. 2020 has been quite a year, but here at OAC, we are so grateful for the support of our members! No matter what brings you to the OAC or keeps you connected to us, we hope you know that you are the heart of what we do and we will continue fighting to make the world a better place for people affected by obesity. The OAC wishes you and your loved ones a happy, healthy Thanksgiving!
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 | OAC OPENS ANNUAL SURVEY - YOU COULD WIN A $25 VISA GIFT CARD! As we look ahead to a new year around the corner, the OAC has opened its Annual Survey to get your insight about our programs, resources, services, intiatives and more. Those who take the survey by Friday, Dec. 18th, will be entered into a raffle to win one of three $25 Visa Gift Cards! TAKE THE SURVEY |  | ARE WE MOVING AWAY FROM OBESITY AS A PERSONAL FAULT? NEW RESEARCH FROM OAC IS PROMISING OAC breaks down new weight bias research presented at ObesityWeek 2020 showing that more people now understand obesity as a medical condition, not as a personal fault. LEARN MORE |  | VITAMIN D, COVID-19 AND OBESITY: WHAT'S THE CONNECTION? As research into COVID-19 continues, there have been many debates about the value of taking vitamin D supplements to defend against COVID-19, especially in individuals with obesity. OAC has broken down what you need to know on this topic. LEARN MORE |  | A COURAGEOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT OBESITY, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, AND BLACK WOMEN OAC's President and CEO recently joined a virtual panel discussion, hosted by the Black Women's Health Imperative, about understanding and addressing obesity in black women. The discussion featured a number of esteemed panelists and shared important takeaways. READ MORE | |  |  | November is also National Family Caregivers Month, and one person who exemplifies the hard work and selflessness of a caregiver is OAC member Sarah Bramblette. In a recent blog post, Sarah shares her experiences managing her own health, including her chronic obesity and lymphedema, plus her mother's health when it comes to helping her navigate the healthcare system. She also shares how caring for her mother has been more challenging in the current COVID-19 pandemic. READ MORE | | | |  | INNOVATION & HEALTH ADVOCACY Shout-out to OAC member Shenese Colwell from Houston, TX, who was announced a 2020 winner of the HealtheVoices Impact Fund! HealtheVoices is a program that brings together online advocates from various health conditions to learn from each other, share, and connect. Shenese was among a handful of advocates to be awarded a grant for a project she is working on to help patients in the bariatric community. More info on her project is still to come, but congratulations, Shenese! | | | STOP OBESITY ALLIANCE LAUNCHES NEW "WEIGHT CAN'T WAIT" GUIDE FOR MANAGING OBESITY IN PRIMARY CARE The Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance launched its new "Weight Can't Wait" Guide earlier this month at ObesityWeek. The guide offers short, accessible, and practical information to support healthcare providers in delivering effective obesity management. LEARN MORE
| SAVE THE DATE: ASMBS ANNOUNCES 2021 WEEKEND MEETING: JAN. 29-30TH The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) is set to host "RE-VISION: The Future of ASMBS" in late January 2021. The program will include new courses for both surgeons and integrated health members, networking events, and opportunities to connect with industry professionals. Virtual sessions will feature interactive discussions, debates, and relevant topics. LEARN MORE | | | | | |
