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Obesity – breaking the stigma
OBESITY
HSE and partners challenge weight stigma and improve understanding
The HSE, Health Eating & Active Living programme hosted its third event Overweight and Obesity...Lets Talk! in October. The event aimed to share the science behind obesity, give practical information to help people to manage and understand behaviours related to weight, continue to break the stigma of obesity through sharing lived experiences and explore conversations about weight and health in healthcare settings
The virtual event was free and open to everyone with an interest in the area, including the general public, clinicians and healthcare professionals.
With nearly 1000 attendees, the event was a collaboration between the HSE Obesity Management Clinical Programme, the Association for the Study of Obesity in Ireland (ASOI) and the Irish Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ICPO).
Sarah O’Brien, HSE, National Lead,Healthy Eating & Active Living Programme, said, “Investment in community services will see community weight management services, delivered by dietitians, available in many areas. "Training for healthcare staff to help them talk with patients living with overweight and obesity about health lifestyles will be available as part of Making Every Contact Count by the end of the year.”
Currently 60% of adults and 20% children have overweight and obesity in Ireland.
Susie Birney, Executive Director ICPO, and Patient Representative, ASOI, said she was delighted to see the continuation of a patient-centred approach with the involvement of the Irish Coalition for People Living with Obesity in planning this awareness event.
“It is clear that hearing the lived experience of those who live with obesity, combined with the science and the research, is an impactful approach for discussing health and weight and also towards addressing the stigma which comes with this disease,” she said.
