Stories

Small island developing states such as Barbados are battling a complex syndemic of lifestyle diseases, including cardiovascular disease, Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity. Over five years ago, in the last population-based study, two out of three adults in Barbados were overweight, and one out of three adults in Barbados was obese (Unwin et al, 2015). Further, the ratio of obesity in women and men was 2:1 (Unwin et al, 2015), also reflected as one in five women was morbidly obese with a body mass index of 35 or greater (Unwin et al 2015). It is the expectation that these figures will worsen. This has rung several alarms at the policy level for urgent implementation of strategies to address the root causes of many conditions, including obesity. Notwithstanding the importance of policy changes, the region must simultaneously build capacity and resilience among healthcare professionals in managing persons living with obesity. Conference Goals • To create an inclusive and thought-provoking conference that challenges societal perceptions of obesity and promotes a holistic understanding of the condition. • To build capacity for optimal obesity management in the Caribbean • To promote cross-disciplinary collaboration in the management of Obesity in the Caribbean. • To bridge the gap between the public and healthcare professionals as it relates to the understanding and management of obesity in Caribbean populations.