Tampa, Fla. – Patient Stories Day on October 13th, 2018, marked the end of another successful National Obesity Care Week. NOCW is a national campaign aimed to change the way we care about obesity by creating a society that understands, respects and accepts the complexities of obesity and values science-based care. With thousands of individuals from across the United States pledging to take action during NOCW to change the way they care about obesity, this year marked record participation.
During the week, individuals had the opportunity to help raise awareness of obesity, the need for access to care, important legislation, weight bias and much more. Social media followers had the chance to view video blogs on Weight Bias and Bariatric Surgery Day that helped to show the personal side of the issue, take part in an OAC-hosted Tweet Chat focused on weight bias and sign a petition demanding that bariatric surgery be covered by insurance providers.
“We are extremely grateful for the support of all our Partners and Champions for NOCW2018. As we look to the future, it will take a nationwide effort to effectively address the disease of obesity. Without our supporters, NOCW would not be possible,” said Joe Nadglowski, Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) President and CEO. Partners for NOCW2018 included: Diamond – Novo Nordisk; Bronze – Ethicon and Medtronic; Patron – Eisai and Leavitt Risk Partners; Supporter – Hitachi and Rhythm Pharmaceuticals.
This year’s NOCW was also very fortunate to have the support of more than 35 Champion organizations: Founding Champions – the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), The Obesity Society (TOS), the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) and the Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance. Additional Champions include: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Academy of Physician Assistants, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Preventative Medicine, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Group Association, American Medical Women’s Association, Asian Pacific Community in Action, American Society for Nutrition, American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, College of Contemporary Health, ConscienHealth, European Association for the Study of Obesity, Foundation Surgical Hospital of San Antonio, Grand Health Partners, Healthcare Leadership Council, Methodist Dallas Medical Center, National Association of Social Workers, National Business Group on Health, National Center for Weight and Wellness, New York Institute of Technology, Obesity Care Advocacy Network, Osteoarthritis Action Alliance, PCOS Challenge: The National Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Association, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, Santa Barbara County Public Health Department Nutrition Services, Society of Behavioral Medicine, The Endocrine Society and TOPS Club, Inc.
If you are interested in learning more about NOCW, please visit www.ObesityCareWeek.org.
The Mission of NOCW is to advance science-based understanding of obesity and widespread access to respectful, comprehensive and appropriate care. Launched in 2015, NOCW was founded by The Obesity Society, the Obesity Action Coalition, Strategies to Overcome and Prevent Obesity Alliance, Obesity Medicine Association and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.