Lisa Schaffer

Founded in 2006, Obesity Canada is a registered national charity dedicated to improving the lives of people living with obesity through research, education, advocacy, and support. The private company is based in Edmonton, Canada. The organization recognizes obesity as a complex, chronic disease primarily driven by biological and genetic factors, and emphasizes compassionate, evidence-based, and personalized care. It advocates for reducing weight bias and stigma, improving healthcare provider education, and promoting systemic changes to enhance access to equitable, culturally safe care, including advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Obesity Canada connects healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, employers, and people with lived experience to foster collaboration and translate research into practice and policy. It leads initiatives to identify research priorities through community engagement and supports patient partnership in research design. The organization provides comprehensive resources addressing obesity management pillars—behavioral, pharmacological, and surgical treatments—while highlighting challenges such as insurance coverage for medications. It offers workplace resources to create inclusive environments and addresses the economic and social impacts of obesity and weight bias in employment. Obesity Canada does not endorse weight loss products, supplements, or programs, focusing instead on education, advocacy campaigns, clinical guidelines, and research funding to improve obesity care and public understanding.