Tampa, Fla. – The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) is excited to announce that OAC member, Sarah Bramblette of Portsmouth, Ohio, is the first place winner in the Health Central Live Bold Anti-Stigma Photo Contest. Ms. Bramblette, an OAC member since 2012, shared with the world an in-depth look at her struggles with the disease of Lipedema and how weight bias impacts her daily life.

Her winning photo caught the eyes of contest voters daily as it features her taking part in her daily water aerobics. According to the LiveBold Facebook page, Sarah has a “goal to become an aquatic fitness instructor and teach classes for other Lipedema and Lymphedema patients so they have a comfortable environment among peers to exercise and get support.”

As the first place winner, Sarah will receive a $500 prize, which she will use to fund her next advocacy trip to Washington, DC. Sarah is a seasoned Capitol Hill advocate and has taken on topics such as access to care for Lipedema patients, obesity, weight bias and more.

“I am overwhelmed with the amount of votes and comments my photo received during the contest. My boyfriend took the picture and my initial reaction to it was a sarcastic ‘thanks babe.’ I soon realized how very powerful the photo was and how it really captured my story. There is more to me and my story than what appears on the surface. The people who take the time to see past my surface appearance get the benefit of knowing me, and in exchange, I get to know them and their story. While I entered for the opportunity to share my story, winning now gives me an even larger platform to spread awareness and to advocate for Lipedema and Lymphedema patients. I applaud all who were bold enough to enter the contest and share their stories. We all may live with different medical challenges but together our stories make a huge impact in the fight against stigma that exists in society,” said Sarah Bramblette.

Sarah has been featured in the Members Matter section of the OAC’s popular publication, Your Weight Matters Magazine, where she gave readers an inside-look at her life and how she’s making a difference for those affected by obesity. To view the article, click here. Sarah also recently wrote a patient’s perspective on living with Lipedema for the OAC, which can be viewed by clicking here.

“The OAC congratulates Sarah on winning the contest. Sarah is an incredible member of the OAC and has always stood strongly with the Coalition as we advocate for effective change and raise awareness of the disease of obesity,” said Joe Nadglowski, OAC President and CEO.

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.