Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

One in four adult Canadians and one in ten Canadian children have obesity. Although the World Health Organization and the Canadian Medical Association recognize obesity as a chronic disease, access to evidence-based treatment within the Canadian health care system remain almost non-existent. Lack of training and support for researchers and health professionals in obesity prevention and management is one barrier to strengthening obesity research and health care services. To establish a community of new researchers and health professionals with expertise and skills in obesity research and practice, Obesity Canada established the Student and New Professional (SNP) program. Today, there are over 1,200 students and new professionals and 30 regional SNP chapters at universities across the country. The primary forum that brings students and new professionals working in the field of obesity is the Canadian Obesity Student Meeting (COSM). The 7th COSM will take place on June 17-19, 2020 at York University in Toronto, Ontario. This meeting will be implemented under the leadership of the Obesity Canada's Student and New Professional Committee in collaboration with York University. The meeting will showcase Canadian research through oral and poster presentations, obesity hot topic debates, and Petcha Kucha events. The meeting also includes career development workshops, social events, and patient engagement activities. The overall goal of this initiative is to nurture future generations of obesity researchers and health professionals in Canada.