Tampa, Fla. – New Orleans was host to the Obesity Action Coalition’s (OAC) 6th Annual Your Weight Matters National Convention. The OAC welcomed upwards of 550 registrants to YWM2017, providing individuals eager to learn more about weight management strategies the opportunity to learn from the country’s foremost experts on weight, health, nutrition, weight bias and more. More than 50 educational topics were presented at YWM2017 by the industry’s leading thought leaders, including Scott Kahan, MD, MPH; Robert Kushner, MD; Christopher Gardner, PhD; Dawn Jackson Blatner, RDN, CSSD, LDN; and many others.
“We were honored to be in the company once again of an impressive line-up of presenters this year. Each year, we strive to enhance our educational program so that attendees receive the latest science-based information to help them in their journey with weight and health,” said Joe Nadglowski, OAC President and CEO.
YWM2017 also gave attendees a first-look at the OAC’s emerging Membership Community, designed to connect anyone with a passion and interest in helping to drive change in obesity. Throughout the Convention, attendees had the unique opportunity to take part in new ENGAGE! sessions where they learned more about the OAC Community and most importantly, they learned from each other by sharing their personal journeys with obesity.
“Each year I always go into Convention wondering what my ‘takeaway’ will be that year. I can undoubtedly say that this year the strong sense of community that organically developed at YWM2017 is my fondest memory, and I look forward to seeing that community grow stronger in the future because there is much work to be done to help people dealing with obesity,” said Michelle Vicari, OAC Vice-chair, Convention Planning Committee Chair.
The OAC was also pleased to honor outstanding OAC members during our 6th Annual OAC Awards Reception. The winners of the OAC 2017 Annual Awards include: OAC Member of the Year – Mary Grisaffi; Chairman’s Award – Tammy Beaumont, BSN, RN, CBN; Barbara Thompson Award for Advocacy – Jason Krynicki; Bias Buster of the Year – Pandora Williams, CPT; Community Leader of the Year – Nanette Adams, MEd, LPC. The OAC congratulates all of this year’s winners.
“We’re so thankful for all of our amazing members and congratulate all of the 2017 Annual Award winners. As we look to the future, the OAC has set some very ambitious goals and we know that the strength and hard work of the OAC community is the only way these goals will become a reality,” said Amber Huett-Garcia, MPA, OAC Chairwoman.
YWM2017 would not have been possible without the support of our National Convention Sponsors. The OAC would like to recognize all of the outstanding corporate supporters of YWM2017: Platinum – Novo Nordisk; Silver – Eisai, Novartis, Orexigen; Bronze – Aspire Bariatrics, Bariatric Advantage, Celebrate Vitamins, Ethicon, Geisinger, KVK Tech, Medtronic, Weight Watchers and Why Weight.com.
In its sixth year, YWM2017 fortified a strong and passionate community of individuals ready to take the next step and engage in their health, with each other and most importantly – the OAC Community. With more than 35 states and three countries represented, YWM2017 proved to have a global reach encouraging science-based education on weight and health, activism, support, engagement and much more.
Don’t miss out on this one-of-kind experience and education, and join us for the 7th Annual Your Weight Matters National Convention that will take place in Denver at the Marriott City Center on July 19-22, 2018. Learn more at www.YWMConvention.com.
The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), a more than 58,000 member-strong National nonprofit organization, is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals affected by the disease of obesity through education, advocacy and support.