“Encourage, lift and strengthen one another. For the positive energy spread to one will be felt by us all. For we are connected, one and all.” – Deborah Day

The ongoing journey with weight and health is a journey that millions of people across the globe have to walk each day of their life – and it’s filled with valleys, roadblocks, triumphant successes and great challenges.

If you’ve ever studied Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, both psychology and human experience remind us that our needs for intimacy, prestige and accomplishment are essential for self-actualization.

As social creatures, we naturally crave the companionship and company of other people – and especially those enduring the same experiences and life journeys as our own. This helps us to feel secure in our struggles and confident in our goals, and it allows us to be the triumphant victors we so desperately want to be.

How Can a Support Group Help You Meet Your Weight Management Goals?

For this very reason, support groups are a powerful way to gain the inspiration, motivation and encouragement that is often (and usually) needed for fuel on the journey with weight and health.

Why might a support group be for you?

Coming together in a safe, supportive environment filled with like-minded people who have shared experiences can help you realize many different smaller, individual goals/benefits including:

• Validation that your own struggles are real and important
• Advice, tips and suggestions for nutrition, exercise and other weight management factors
• Emotional support to keep you encouraged and motivated
• Day-to-day accountability to help you stay on-track
• Brand new friendships to last a lifetime

How Do I Get Started with a Support Group?

For some, finding a group of people to walk with you on your weight management journey can be incredibly challenging. If you’re lacking the companionship of friends and family, you may ask yourself, “Where else can I turn?”

This is where a little bit of work is required. Here are a few ways you can get started and find a support group that meets your physical, emotional and even spiritual needs:

• Search online for weight management support groups in your area
• Ask your primary care physician, weight management specialist or psychologist if they recommend any support groups specifically
• Use word-of-mouth to see what sorts of groups/meet-ups friends and family recommend
• Visit the Obesity Action Coalition’s (OAC) website for a list of support networks in your state

Finding Support through the OAC Community

Don’t forget that the OAC Community is an invaluable resource on your journey with weight and health. Through our online Community ENGAGE Platform, you have multiple opportunities to find helpful weight/health education and connect with other individuals who simple “get it.” There is no judgement in the OAC Community – only support!