It’s been clear for some time that what has been missing from the conversations about the management of obesity is the voice of people actually living with the condition.
In 2020 WIN published The Personal Costs of Weight Issues in Australia, an advocacy report that highlights the experiences and challenges of those living with obesity and raises awareness that the “eat less, move more” mantra is too simple to reflect real experience. Specifically, the report highlights experiences of stigma while navigating the health system and in day-to-day life. It provides a human perspective that can be used to help key decision-makers and healthcare professionals to improve the lives and experiences of people living with obesity.
The advocacy report was produced without specific external funding through the hard work and consultation of our members and friends. To those who were brave enough to talk about the challenges you face living with obesity, we thank you.
We also give our thanks to the many clinical and public health professionals who volunteered their time and expertise to contribute to the evidence base of the report.
- Prof. (Em.) Adrian Bauman – University of Sydney
- A/Prof. Ahmad Aly – Head Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Austin Hospital, Academic Melbourne University
- Dr. Alexandra Jones – Research Fellow, Food Policy and Law, The George Institute for Global Health Australia, Food Policy, Conjoint Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow
- Alice Pryor – Manager, Parents’ Voice
- Prof. Amanda Lee – Public Health Policy and Head of Division of Health Promotion and Equity, The University of Queensland
- Prof. Anna Peeters – Director Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University
- A/Prof. Annette Schmiede – Board member of the Northern Sydney Local Health
District and former Executive Leader, Bupa Health Foundation - Beverly Johnson – Clinical Psychologist, Central Western NSW
- Prof. Brian Oldfield – Obesity researcher, Monash University, President Asia and Oceania Association for the Study of Obesity, Vice President World Obesity Federation
- Prof. Caroline Miller – Director Health Policy Centre, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, The University of Adelaide
- Dr. Catherine Bacus – GP and Founder Alevia clinics (Primary care)
- A/Prof. Christina Pollard – Director Public Health Advocacy Institute of Western Australia, Vice President (Policy) Public Health Association of Australia
- Prof. Clare Collins – Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle
- Ms. Clare Mullen – Engagement Manager, Health Consumers’ Council WA
- A/Prof. Gary Sacks – Global Obesity Centre, Deakin University
- Dr. Georgia Rigas – GP & Chair of Specific Interests Obesity Group RACGP (Primary care/RACGP)
- Prof. Helen Skouteris – Deputy Director, Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University
- Prof. Ian Caterson – Boden Collaboration, CPC, and Endocrinology RPAH
- Ms. Jane Martin – Executive Manager Obesity Policy Coalition, Cancer Council Victoria
- Dr. Janet Franklin – Senior Dietitian Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Metabolism and Obesity Services
- Dr. Jo Mitchell – Senior Advisor, The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
- Prof. Jo Salmon – Co-Director Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Deakin University
- Prof. John Dixon – GP and researcher, Baker IDI (Primary care/research)
- Dr. Kathryn Williams – Nepean Family Metabolic Health Service (Endocrinologist family clinic)
- Kathy Grudzinskas – CNC Diabetes Educator for South Western Sydney Metabolic Rehabilitation & Bariatric Program
- Prof. Louise Baur – Head of the Children’s Hospital Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney
- Adj. Prof. Louise Sylvan – Chair of Energy Consumers Australia, former CEO of the Australian National Preventative Health Agency and Vice-chair of the Australian Advisory Board on Impact Investing
- Prof. Lucie Rychetnik – Co-Director The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
- Meredith Kearney – Deputy HOD, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Psychology Department Concord Hospital
- Dr. Michael Talbot – President ANZMOSS (Bariatric surgery)
- Dr. Narelle Story – Academic at The University of Sydney and Former bariatric nurse
- Dr. Nic Kormas – Senior Staff Specialist Endocrinologist, Camden, Campbelltown and Concord Hospitals (Endocrinologist MDT clinics)
- Dr. Nicholas Williams – Bariatric Surgeon, Endocrine Surgeon, Upper GI Surgeon, Wagga Wagga
- A/Prof. Paul Dugdale – Australian National University Medical School, Medical Director Chronic Disease Management, ACT Health
- Dr. Priya Sumithran – Clinician Researcher, Endocrinologist at Austin Health, Senior research fellow Centre for Research and Education in Diabetes and Obesity, University of Melbourne
- Dr. Shelley Bowen – Managing Director Health Futures Australia
- Dr. Shirley Alexander, Head of Children’s Hospital Institute of Sports Medicine and Weight Management Services, Westmead (Paediatrician, Weight Management Services)
- Prof. Stephen Colagiuri – Boden Collaboration and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney
- Prof. Stephen Simpson – Academic Director Charles Perkins Centre, Executive Director Obesity Australia
- Prof. Steven Allender – Director, Global Obesity Centre (GLOBE), Deakin University
- Dr. Teresa Girolamo – GP and Director Re:You Health Group
- Prof. Timothy Gill – Public Health Nutrition, Boden Collaboration for Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise and Eating Disorders, Charles Perkins Centre and Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney
- Dr. Viral Chikani – Consultant Endocrinologist St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital and Princess Alexandria Hospital
- Prof. Wendy Brown – Head Monash University Department of Surgery and Clinical Director Bariatric Surgery Registry
- Adj. Prof. William Bellew – Public Health, School of Public Health, University of Sydney