Stories

I changed my life 33 years ago when we moved to another city with 3 children and my mother.

OPINION: World Obesity Day imagines acceptance and equity in care Obesity Matters began with a dream: to create an organization that could help bring awareness to obesity and its effects. We wanted to challenge the status quo by showing how obesity can affect all of us, regardless of age or background.

From the time I was just five years old, I learned to use food to soothe my anxiety, handle my grief, lift my mood, and numb the chronic emotional pain I was experiencing from living in a chaotic, alcoholic home.

See Medha's video on her Facebook or Instagram pages.

Let me introduce myself. I am a 64-year-old, hardworking, Southernish, Black woman. By day, I work for WYPR, the NPR news station in Baltimore. At all other times, I am a woman on a mission to eradicate obesity amongst Black women

I reflect on my story here in 'New Year Resolutions (That Quiet Place)'

Mental health can trigger unhealthy coping mechanisms leading to being overweight/obese but also can be affected by those conditions. This is why mental health should be a priority.

I am an obesity survivor and absolutely thriving in my health & fitness going on 8 years now. I am now a personal trainer & body transformation specialist in Perth Western Australia, offering in person coaching and online programs to guide the others trying to overcome obesity & for those that are undergoing bariatric surgery.

Obesity has become a challenge, a big one, in Nepal (a South Asian nation which continues to struggle with persistent under-nourishment among her people).

Carla speaks to her experience of living with obesity.

Dana speaks to the importance of remembering the support offered by the loved ones of those living with obesity.

My name is Sandra Elia, I'm passionate about the work I do to help those living with obesity because my story includes overcoming obesity.

Educating healthcare professionals in using non-stigmatising language and communication in managing obesity may positively affect the quality of healthcare and adherence outcomes in weight loss programmes and interventions.

I felt alone for twenty years because I did not receive appropriate medical support and my obesity was considered a choice. Then I found my local patient organisation.

Dr Ada Cuevas of the Centro Avanzado de Medicina Metabólica y Nutrición (Cammyn) in Chile speaks to Melyna about her experience of living with obesity and facing weight stigma.

When I was seeking support as the partner of someone living with obesity, I couldn’t find any. So, I decided to write a book entitled ‘Thru Thick and Thin: Facing Obesity thru the Eyes of a Loved One’.

Treating my obesity allowed me to prepare myself for a big challenge to climb Aconcagua Mountain. I am almost there! (Story in Portuguese.)

For years I let negative statements about me and my weight define who I thought I was. Each time I tell my story, the people that made those comments become a little less powerful.

Allison Ibrahim has lived with obesity for more than 30 years. Having access to good information, supportive systems, and properly informed healthcare professional is essential – but difficult to come by

As we approach World Obesity Day (WOD) and Obesity Matters’ first anniversary, I cannot help but reflect on why I started Obesity Matters, and there are three major reasons that stand out

Ogweno Stephen was born with childhood obesity, but with the support of people around him he was able to manage his condition. He now leads Stowelink, an organisation educating people in Kenya about obesity, stigma, and how to lead healthier lives.

For World Obesity Day 2022, we felt that we needed to start asking people in Leeds about their experiences of living with obesity and the associated stigma, bias and discrimination