Newest members bring World Obesity representation to over 100 countries!

Headquartered in New Caledonia with its regional office in Fiji, the Pacific Community (SPC) represents over 20 island nations and territories and is region's principal scientific and technical organisation supporting development in the Pacific since 1947. Its Public Health Division, which joins as a Full Member, is dedicated to promoting and protecting the health of people in the region through prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases.

The Pacific islands, due to a complex interplay of environmental and medical factors, account for some of the highest incidence rates of obesity, and it is thus vital that its civil society and people are represented at World Obesity forums. Dr Si Thu Win Tin, leader at SPC’s NCD programme prioritised 'strengthening political leadership, policy and legislation, health promotion, capacity building, multisectoral engagement and accountability' as key areas in the fight against obesity across the Pacific.

Find out more: https://phd.spc.int/

Based in Barbados, the Healthy Caribbean Coalition is a civil society alliance that works in the NCD sphere, collaborating with government, academia and international partners to develop and implement plans for prevention and management of chronic disease among Caribbean people.

Much like the Pacific, island nations in the Caribbean have an alarming incidence of obesity and childhood obesity (one in three Caribbean children lives with overweight and obesity), and shared issues such a heavy reliance on imported foodstuffs. HCC, which joins as a Full Member, is committed to driving forward policy interventions that have meaningful impact on obesity prevention and management, including 'evidence-based food policies which support healthy food environments and contribute to halting and reversing increasing levels of overweight and obesity'.

Find out more: https://www.healthycaribbean.org/

Dasman Diabetes Institute has a primary mission of curbing diabetes prevalence through obesity education for healthcare professionals. Dasman develops academic activities, advisory in healthcare policy and training in Kuwait.

The Institute has been a long-term collaborator with World Obesity, and their membership increases the Middle East representation, building on the work for obesity recommendations in the Gulf.

Dr Qais Al Duwairi, Director General, stated the desire to join an international network such as World Obesity in order to access "information on obesity activities and policies around the world [and] to share our expertise in and commitment to addressing obesity… for the well-being of people living with obesity".

Find out more: https://www.dasmaninstitute.org/

The Obesity Workgroup of the Mexican Society of Nutrition and Endocrinology aims to promote the comprehensive study of obesity with the larger group that is SMNE. The workgroup promotes research into prevention, treatment, and complications related to obesity, and organises education for their members and national healthcare professionals through development of academic congress, Mexican obesity consensus statements, and advisory in healthcare policy.

The work carried out by the group is centred on improving outcomes for those living with this disease. In this vein, Dr Margarita Torres Tamayo, SMNE president, and Dr Emma Chávez Manzanera, Head of Obesity Workgroup, welcomed the affiliation with World Obesity to ‘work together for the well-being of people living with obesity and delve into the roots that lead to the development of obesity.’ SMNE joins as a Full Member.

Find out more: https://www.endocrinologia.org.mx/

The Stroke Association Support Network (SASNET) Ghana has a mission to reduce the burden of stroke, CVD and obesity in Ghana through multidisciplinary research and capacity-building, promoting intervention services for the lives of patients in Ghana, as well as obesity prevention policies and awareness campaigns.

SASNET routinely collaborates with the Public Health and Health Promotion Unit of the Ministry of Health in Ghana to mark World Obesity Day. Alongside its partners, SASNET has initiated a study on childhood obesity in Ghana. Dr Ben Jabuni, SASNET Ghana president, emphasised his organisation’s commitment to contributing to World Obesity's work in ‘realising its objectives across the globe, especially in the Africa region.’

SASNET is accepted as an Associate Member and is the second organisation to join from Ghana.

Find out more: https://care.sasnetghana.org/

Zastavme nadváhu a obezitu is an organisation based in the Czech Republic which aims to educate physicians in obesity-related topics and bariatric surgery, recently approved as an Associate Member.

Translated as ‘Let’s Stop Overweight and Obesity’, the organisation brings together healthcare professionals and cooperates with state institutions and other non-profits to systematise obesity care and offer the Czech population options for dealing with overweight and obesity.

The organisation aims to work with patients, doctors in state institutions, faculties of medicine, health insurers and more, providing training and advisory services in obesity management and prevention.

Find out more: https://www.zastavmenadvahuaobezitu.cz/