Welcome to the session guide for the 2026 OM Wellness Workshop. This page is designed to help you explore what we cover across the year, so you can plan ahead, choose the sessions most relevant to you, and feel confident about what to expect.
Across the year, participants will:
Explore the science, treatment options, and lived realities of obesity
Build practical skills for nourishment, movement, and self-care
Find community, support, and confidence to navigate long-term wellbeing
Format: 12 months • Biweekly (every 2 weeks)
Structure: Educational session every 4 weeks, alternating with Support and Practical sessions
Hosts:
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Educational sessions: Rachel Atkins
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Support & Practical sessions: Sandra Elia
Register for the OM Wellness Workshop
View Full Schedule (Subject to change)
Season 1 — Foundations for Change
March 3, 2026 (Tue) – LAUNCH (completed)
You Belong Here: Community Welcome & Orientation
A warm introduction to the year ahead, community norms, and how to get the most from the workshop.
Guests: Dr. Sandy Van, Gina Livy, Brenda Rogers, Alissa Steinberg
Hosts: Rachel Atkins, Sandra Elia & Priti Chawla
March 18, 2026 | 12 PM ET (completed)
Weight Loss: What We Get Wrong
In today’s noisy weight-loss landscape, this conversation cuts through the hype to explore what we often get wrong – and what actually matters in real life.
Guest: Dr. Megha Poddar
April 1, 2026 | 12 PM ET (completed)
Putting Knowledge into Action – Wins & Questions
A supportive space to reflect, share experiences, and ask questions as you begin.
Facilitated by Sandra Elia
April 15, 2026 | 12 PM ET (completed)
Sleep, Stress & Weight – The Hidden Metabolic Disruptors
So many of us push through exhaustion without realizing how deeply sleep affects our health. In this session, Dr. Rishi Handa helps us understand the connection between sleep, stress, metabolism, and weight, and invites us to reflect on our own experiences in a safe, supportive space. Come ready to learn, share, and maybe finally get some answers.
Guest: Dr. Rishi Handa
April 29, 2026 | 12 PM ET (completed)
Eat Well, Move Well – Foundations That Fit Real Life
Practical, adaptable nutrition and movement strategies designed for real bodies and real lives.
Guests: Alissa Steinberg and Dr. Kathryn Porter Starr
Facilitated by Sandra Elia
May 13, 2026 | 12 PM ET (completed)
Mindfulness for a Busy Mind: Small Tools for Real Life
Feeling overwhelmed or stuck? This workshop offers simple, practical tools to help calm a busy mind and navigate stress and anxiety.
Real, supportive, and designed for everyday life – no pressure, just small steps that work.
Guest: Dena Jackson
Season 2 — Treatment, Tools & Metabolic Health
May 27, 2026 | 12 PM ET (completed)
Why Willpower Isn’t the Answer: Understanding Food Addiction
Do you find yourself eating past fullness, struggling to stop even when you want to, or feeling controlled by certain foods? You’re not alone, and it’s not a lack of willpower. Join Dr. Vera Tarman and Sandra Elia for an open, stigma-free conversation on food addiction: what it is, how it connects to obesity, and what real support looks like. This is a space to be heard, understood, and empowered.
Guest: Dr. Vera Tarman
June 10, 2026 | 12 PM ET (completed)
The Era of Obesity Medications: What You Need to Know
Join Dr. Sandy Van for an accessible overview of today’s obesity treatment landscape — from prescription medications and emerging therapies to generic options, telehealth access, and the role of behavioural support and CBT in achieving lasting results.
Guest: Dr. Sandy Van
June 24, 2026 | 12 PM ET (completed)
Muscle Preservation in the Age of Obesity Medications
Why protecting muscle matters – and how to support strength, function, and metabolism through nutrition, supplements and physical activity
Guests: Alissa Steinberg & Dr. Kathryn Porter Starr
Facilitated by Maude Picotte
July 8, 2026 | 12 PM ET (completed)
Crucial Conversations
Living with obesity often involves difficult conversations—with healthcare providers, loved ones, employers, and even ourselves. This session will explore compassionate communication, self-advocacy, managing expectations, and building self-trust, equipping you with practical tools to navigate these conversations with confidence and empathy.
Facilitated by Sandra Elia
July 22, 2026 | 12 PM ET (completed)
The Science of Happiness and Living Well: Small Habits That Create a Happier, Healthier Life
What does it really mean to live well? Join our very own happiness doctor, Dr. Gillian Mandich, as she explores the science of happiness and what it takes to truly flourish. Learn simple, evidence-based habits that can increase joy, build optimism, create a greater sense of purpose, and support a healthier, more fulfilling life, one small step at a time.
Guest: Dr. Gillian Mandich
August 5, 2026 | 12 PM ET (completed)
Metabolic Adaptation & Energy Balance – Why the Body Resists Change
Why does weight loss become harder over time? Why do plateaus happen? This session explores the science of metabolic adaptation, energy expenditure, appetite hormones, and the body’s built-in mechanisms to defend weight. Learn why maintaining weight loss is challenging—and why it’s not simply a matter of willpower.
Guest: Dr. Michael Crotty
Season 3 — Mental Health, Maintenance & Real Life
August 19, 2026 | 12 PM ET (completed)
Your Brain, Your Cravings, Your Energy: The Insulin Resistance Connection Explained
Cravings aren’t about willpower. They’re shaped by your brain, your body, your emotions, your environment, and factors like blood sugar and insulin resistance. So what can we actually do when they hit?
Join Sandra Elia and guest Alissa Steinberg, RD, CDE, MHSc, for a lively, practical conversation about working with your biology instead of against it. Together they’ll dig into what’s really happening behind cravings and energy crashes, including the role insulin resistance can play, and most importantly, what you can actually do about it.
Come for the conversation, stay for the delicious demos, and leave with realistic strategies and recipes you can actually use at home.
Guest: Alissa Steinberg, RD CDE MHSc
Facilitated by Sandra Elia
September 2, 2026 | 12 PM ET (completed)
Why Is My Body Changing?
Understanding Weight, Hormones & Metabolism
Join Emilia Huvinen, MD, PhD, a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Associate Professor at the University of Helsinki. Dr. Huvinen will explore how perimenopause, hormones, metabolism, appetite and genetics can influence weight – and why it’s about so much more than willpower.
📖 Special English Book Launch
Hungry Genes? Understanding Obesity Without Blame
Guest: Dr. Emilia Huvinen
Facilitated by Rachel Atkins
September 16, 2026 | 12 PM ET
Making Peace With Food: Beyond Willpower and Food Rules
Why can someone feel confident and capable in so many areas of life, yet struggle in their relationship with food?
Join Sandra Elia for an honest, supportive conversation about the roles food can play in our lives, from comfort and reward to stress relief and emotional coping. Together, we’ll explore why discipline may not be the problem and what it can mean to move away from guilt, constant negotiation and “starting over” toward a more peaceful relationship with food.
Facilitated by Sandra Elia
September 30, 2026 | 12 PM ET
Understanding Weight Regain & Plateaus
Learn why weight regain happens and what science tells us about long-term maintenance.
Guest: Dr. Sasha High
October 14, 2026 | 12 PM ET
Movement & Mindfulness — Finding Your Flow
What if movement and mindfulness could actually fit your real life? Join us as we explore gentle, practical ways to move and be present — no perfection required, just you showing up as you are.
Guests: Dr. Katie Starr & Erin Jacob
Facilitated by Sandra Elia
October 28, 2026 | 12 PM ET
Reward-Based Eating – How the Brain Drives Cravings
Explore how the brain’s reward system influences eating and why control-based approaches often fail.
Guest: Dr. Laura Reardon
Season 4 — Relationships, Resilience & Sustainable Living
November 11, 2026 | 12 PM ET
Mid-Year Check-In Reflect & Reset
A guided pause to reflect on progress, reset goals, and adjust your approach.
Facilitated by Sandra Elia
November 25, 2026 | 12 PM ET
Mindful Eating During the Holidays
Practical tools for navigating food, emotions, and expectations during the holiday season.
Guest: Dr. Sandy Van
December 9, 2026 | 12 PM ET
Holiday Wellness – Joyful, Balanced & Bright
Festive recipes, joyful movement, and realistic wellness strategies to help you enjoy the holidays while supporting your health.
Guests: Alissa Steinberg & Eric Levitan
Facilitated by Sandra Elia
January 6, 2027 | 12 PM ET
Living Fully in Your Body – Not Waiting for a Number
Reframing health, worth, and wellbeing beyond the scale.
Guest: To be confirmed
January 20, 2027 | 12 PM ET
Overcoming Setbacks with Self-Compassion
Tools to rebuild momentum with kindness, resilience, and realistic expectations.
Facilitated by Sandra Elia
February 3, 2027 | 12 PM ET
Let’s Talk About Sex — Hormones, Intimacy & Body Confidence
An open, evidence-informed conversation about intimacy, hormones, and body changes.
Guest: To be confirmed
Ready to build sustainable wellness – season by season, together?
✔ Attend live or watch replays
✔ Join at any point – stay for what you need
✔ Compassionate, stigma-free, evidence-based care
There is no cost to join
Register for OM Wellness Workshop 2026
Interested in Sponsoring a Session?
Contact Priti Chawla: priti@obesity-matters.com
Speakers
