Tampa, Fla. – Today, the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) launched the Convention Scholarship Program giving individuals the opportunity to attend the nation’s PREMIER Convention that empowers and arms individuals with evidence-based education to help them successfully manage their weight and health – OAC’s Your Weight Matters National Convention. The OAC’s 3rd Annual Convention takes place September 25-28 in Orlando, Fla., and will feature more than 50 educational topics, all to be presented by the country’s leading experts on weight and health.

The Convention Scholarship Program is a newly-developed initiative designed to help individuals by awarding grants to fund or offset the associated expenses in attending the Convention and comes in response to the tremendous need for individuals affected by excess weight and obesity to have access to quality education on weight and health.  The Convention Scholarship Program is in its inaugural year and will award a minimum of $7,500 in scholarships to individuals who submit an application by the deadline date – Friday, July 25.

“We wanted to make attending our Convention a reality for anyone, and this includes individuals who may not be able to financially make it happen on their own. The education offered at the Your Weight Matters Convention is simply unsurpassed, and the Convention Scholarship Program allows us to offer our one-of-a-kind event to individuals in need,” said Joe Nadglowski, OAC President and CEO.

In order to ensure the most objective decision-making process, the OAC has selected an outside third-party, the Obesity Research Team at the Milken Institute School for Public Health at the George Washington University (GW), to handle the review/evaluation of all Convention Scholarship applications. GW will serve as the Convention Scholarship Review Committee and will handle reviewing and receiving all applications. The OAC is thankful for GW’s leadership and objectivity in reviewing all applications.

“For those that have attended a Your Weight Matters Convention, you know first-hand that it is truly a life-changing experience. From the paramount education presented to the personal connections made at Convention, there is simply no substitute. The scholarship program will open the doors to anyone wanting to be a part of it,” said Ted Kyle, RPh, MBA, OAC Chairman.

About the OAC
The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), a nearly 50,000 member-strong National nonprofit organization, is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals affected by the disease of obesity through education, advocacy and support. To learn more about the OAC, please visit www.ObesityAction.org.