Obesity Network Now Canada’s Global Voice in Obesity



Yesterday, the Canadian Obesity Network announced that it is now Canada’s official representative in the International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO), the umbrella organization for 52 national obesity associations, representing 56 countries.

Click here for a brief history of IASO.

Canada was previously represented at IASO by The Obesity Society (TOS), formerly known as the North American Association for the Study of Obesity (NAASO), which continues to be the leading scientific society dedicated to the study of obesity in the USA and Mexico and will remain as the regional representative for North America within IASO.

According to IASO President Prof. Philip James,

“With a diverse and active professional community in place and a successful track record in obesity, the time was right for the Canadian Obesity Network to become a member of IASO and represent Canada.”

TOS President Dr. Patrick O’Neil adds that

“This decision has the full support of both the TOS and IASO governing councils as well as the CON-RCO board of directors. The three organizations believe this will benefit all our members, and we look forward to close collaboration as we work towards improving obesity prevention and treatment globally.”

Membership in IASO offers members of the Network a number of benefits including:

– Discounted fees for the Specialist Certification in Obesity Professional Education (SCOPE) education program
– Discounted fees to IASO events, including ICO and Hot Topic Conferences
– Substantially discounted fees for IASO journals (Pediatric Obesity, Clinical Obesity and Obesity Reviews)
– Access to an exclusive repository of obesity prevalence data

More importantly, perhaps, the many excellent obesity research programs and other initiatives happening across Canada will now gain even more international visibility and attention through this membership in IASO.

I, for one, certainly look forward to this new and expanded role for the Canadian Obesity Network on the global stage.

AMS
Dallas, TX