1 in 4 Canadians lives with obesity,1 and yet it is a highly misunderstood disease. People living with obesity often face weight bias and stigma, which makes it challenging to feel empowered to seek proper care.2
We know that obesity is not a choice. In fact, science tells us that 70%-80% of obesity is influenced by genetics.3
In April 2022, eight Canadians gathered to share their experiences living with obesity – both the physical challenges and the emotional obstacles they have faced on a daily basis for many years. Participants reflected on their experiences by writing letters to their younger selves, and these meaningful moments have been compiled into a book by New York Times best-selling author, Ellyn Spragins.
The hope is that these stories will help to create better understanding for what it truly means to live with obesity. You can read by downloading the book.
You can also watch some of the stories of Canadians who have experienced obesity below:
1 Canada, P. H. A. of. (2020, November 5). Data blog. Obesity in rural and urban Canada – Data Blog – Public Health Infobase | Public Health Agency of Canada. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://health-infobase.canada.ca/datalab/canadian-risk-factor-atlas-obesity-blog.html?=undefined&wbdisable=true.
2 Weight stigma. World Obesity Federation. (2018, November 8). Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://www.worldobesity.org/what-we-do/our-policy-priorities/weight-stigma#:~:text=Fear%20of%20stigma%20can%20lead,weight%20cycling%20and%20eating%20anxiety.
3 What causes obesity? Obesity Canada. (2022, September 6). Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://obesitycanada.ca/understanding-obesity/.
This content was created in collaboration with Novo Nordisk Canada.
