CMA Looks to CON for Obesity Solutions

With a resolution adopted at its 141st annual meeting last week, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has formally encouraged provincial medical associations to address the growing obesity epidemic – specifically, by partnering with the Canadian Obesity Network (CON).

“Obesity is the new Canadian epidemic,” Dr. Richard Tytus, McMaster University associate professor and CON member, told CMA delegates. “Hypertension may be the silent killer, but obesity is the ignored disease. The time to address it is now.”

Dr. Tytus first introduced the resolution at a July meeting of Ontario delegates. It then became the second of 14 resolutions adopted under the Health Promotion and Prevention category at the CMA’s annual meeting last week, it reads:

‘The Canadian Medical Association encourages provincial/territorial medical associations to work in conjunction with the Canadian Obesity Network to help develop chronic care models for obesity prevention and management.’

“This is a very important development – it signals recognition by Canada’s medical community of the importance of tackling the issue of obesity in Canada,” says Irving Gold, chairman of CON’s board of directors. “The Canadian Obesity Network and its members look forward to working with Canada’s medical community to address the devastating consequences of this disease, and we applaud the wisdom of the CMA general council.”

As I’ve said before, “The Canadian Obesity Network is ideally situated to help the medical community by providing tools and learning opportunities based on the latest available scientific evidence that physicians need to effectively prevent and treat obesity. The CMA’s resolution is a call to action to address this important issue.”

As Scientific Director of CON, I am of course very pleased to see CON recognized by the CMA. I look forward to working with the provincial medical associations on reducing the burden of obesity on all Canadians.

AMS
Edmonton, Alberta