About OAC Membership
As a grassroots organization, the reason and need for the OAC’s formation was to bring together the individuals who are impacted by the life-changing disease of obesity. One of the first steps to getting involved and making a difference in obesity is to become a member of the OAC.
Membership allows the OAC to build a Coalition of individuals impacted, which brings a unified voice in obesity. These are the individuals that make up the membership of the OAC:
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Those who are currently struggling with their weight, whether obese or morbidly obese
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Those who are seeking treatment for their obesity
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Individuals who have successfully and/or unsuccessfully treated their obesity
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Friends, coworkers and family members of those affected
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Healthcare professionals whose work is dedicated to those affected
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Organizations interested in impacting the obesity epidemic
You probably find yourself fitting into one of the categories above. This is because obesity affects just about every person in the U.S. and directly impacts more than 93 million Americans. With this number continuing to grow, so must our voice. And that is where YOU become an important part in what the OAC strives to do.
What OAC Members can do to Get Involved
Becoming a member of the OAC is just the first big step. The OAC encourages all of its members to get actively involved and start raising their voice to make a difference. There are a variety of ways that you can get involved.
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Start Advocating: Write to your elected official – So many people are faced with the same challenges each day. Writing to your elected official is a great way to start advocating. If you are having trouble accessing a treatment for your obesity, write to them! If you have successfully treated your obesity and want to share its impact on your quality of health and life, write to them! If you face situations of stigma or discrimination and want something done about it, write to them! They need to hear from you and hear your voice. To locate your elected officials, please click here.
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Help others who are/have been faced with the same challenges as you – Help spread the OAC’s message. The OAC has a variety of education and advocacy tools to help those who are affected by obesity. As a member, you have the ability to distribute the OAC’s literature and can help others understand the obesity epidemic and what they can do to drive change. To view or request OAC’s education or advocacy tools, please click here.
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Join a local Walk from Obesity – The OAC is a proud partner in the Annual Walk from Obesity. The Walk from Obesity is a National event that brings together those who are affected by obesity to draw attention to the need for increased education, prevention, research, advocacy and treatment initiatives. Walks take place in more than 70 cities across the country. We encourage each of you to get involved with this important event. For more information and to find a Walk in your local area, please visit the Walk Web site at www.walkfromobesity.com.
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