OAC Blog

For more than four decades, Kevin Stephens believed what so many people living with obesity are told: it was his fault. “I always thought it was my fault; I didn’t exercise enough, I ate the wrong things,” says Kevin, who leads a human services department in Riverside County. “That’s a long, long time to feel
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A Lifetime of Struggle Shekinah Samaya-Thomas has lived with chronic obesity since she was 18 months old. For most of her life, she was trapped in a relentless cycle of weight loss and regain, declining health and delayed or denied access to supportive healthcare. Name a weight reduction program—she did it. Countless pounds came off,
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Support, education and connection can transform a journey—and for Casey Flowers, RD, her work with the Obesity Action Coalition has done just that. As a dietitian passionate about weight management and expanding access to care, Casey has dedicated her career to helping individuals living with obesity feel seen and supported. Casey first connected with the
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What Inspired Me to Become an Advocate Cherie Desjardin’s advocacy journey began in 2013, when she underwent gastric bypass surgery through a small program with minimal post-operative follow-up. As a healthcare professional, she had the knowledge and support to navigate her recovery—but she quickly realized that most patients without that background faced a very different
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Sometimes, revisiting the past can be painful — but it can also bring healing. That’s what happened for Jess at this year’s Your Weight Matters National Convention. He came seeking connection and support for himself, but what he found in the Thrive Together Program went far deeper: a chance to witness young people experiencing the
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OAC and Our Support of Legislation on Compounding by Joe Nadglowski Why does OAC engage so actively in discussions about compounded medications? It might be easier for OAC to stay quiet on compounding. We could choose not to engage. But we believe silence would be irresponsible and that individuals affected by obesity need to know
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OAC Statement About Grey Market GLP-1 Products and Safe Obesity Care People in our Community are doing everything they can to improve their health while living with the chronic disease of obesity. But the reality is that long-term obesity management is made harder by a healthcare system that limits access to safe, effective treatment options.
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Nicholas has navigated serious health challenges since childhood, including rapid weight gain tied to a rare genetic condition. Despite healthy habits and an active lifestyle, he still faced frustrating barriers to accessing additional treatments he needed, from GLP-1 medication to bariatric surgery, to help him move forward in his health journey. With perseverance, the steady
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Every day, families across the country face the challenges of obesity and the stigma that too often comes with it. But because of supporters like you, they don’t have to face it alone. The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) is working toward a future where every person has access to compassionate care, evidence-based treatment and a
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We’ve all experienced moments when we needed support — and moments when someone else needed ours. That’s the power of community, and OAC Member Lisa Hernandez embodies it in everything she does. Known for her kindness, resilience and the warmth she brings to every interaction, Lisa has become a steady source of encouragement for others
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As a young teen, John faced serious health challenges caused by excess weight, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), prediabetes and severe sleep apnea. Even simple activities caused pain and exhaustion, and relentless bullying at school pushed him into isolation, leaving him three grades behind. Determined to help her son, John’s mom, Karen, tried diets,
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For most of her life, Liz Paul carried the heavy burden of blame. “Everyone told me I had a problem,” Liz recalls. “Doctors, family, society — they all said, ‘Why don’t you just fix it?’ I spent decades gaining and losing hundreds of pounds, always believing it was my fault.” For 37 years, no one
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