It takes more than willpower and a healthy diet to manage obesity.
“Obesity is a complex, chronic disease that requires a multidisciplinary approach to care,” says Marina Kurian, MD, a former president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). For the best results, according to Dr. Kurian, you’ll likely need “medical, nutritional, behavioral, and psychosocial support and counseling.”
Fortunately, there are organizations out there that can help you reach your goals, although it may take some trial and error to find the right one for you. “There are many groups out there,” says Kimberly Gomer, RD, a weight management coach based in Miami. “The vibe is different, depending on each group. It’s individual preference as to [whether] one group will be a better fit than another.”
The following nine obesity support organizations offer a great starting point for your health journey.
TOPS Club
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Club is a non-profit organization for weight loss support and education. They aim to help members “take off and keep off pounds” by providing resources, guides, recipes, and weekly in-person and virtual meetings to help promote a healthy lifestyle.
Since 1948, TOPS Club has expanded to over 9,000 chapters across the country, and welcomes anyone over the age of 7 to join the organization
Obesity Action Coalition
The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to representing people affected by obesity. The group focuses on raising awareness and improving access to effective ways of preventing and treating obesity. They also provide education about evidence-based interventions and fight stigma and weight bias to ensure that all people are treated equally, regardless of size.
The OAC provides a number of support and advocacy tools, including a community discussion forum where you can connect with others, a library of videos and written accounts from individuals sharing their personal stories, and an action center filled with resources to help you use your voice to urge local, state, and federal legislators to prioritize obesity care.
American Obesity Foundation
With empathy and compassion at its core, the American Obesity Foundation (AOF) is committed to fighting the obesity epidemic in the United States, especially in low-income and underserved communities.
The AOF’s initiatives include wellness programs in schools, houses of worship, and community centers; mobile clinics offering health screenings, nutrition classes, and health education; and community wellness coaches who are specially trained in cultural sensitivities for the populations they work with and are longtime residents of the communities they serve. The organization’s site also offers an inspiring variety of success stories, detailing how each individual lost weight in their own unique way.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Founded in 1917, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, representing more than 112,000 credentialed nutrition and dietetics practitioners.
A trusted source of all food- and nutrition-related information, the organization is committed to advancing the country’s health and well-being, including reducing the impact of obesity. Their website offers numerous nutritious, well-balanced recipes for every meal, tips for meal planning, and dietary recommendations for living well with a chronic health condition.
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
The mission of ASMBS is to “improve public health and well-being by lessening the burden of the disease of obesity and related diseases throughout the world.”
Founded by surgeons in 1983, ASMBS now has more than 4,000 members, as well as its own scientific journal, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases. In addition to advancing the professional understanding and treatment of obesity and metabolic and bariatric surgery, ASMBS promotes education about these conditions and advocates for people to receive the best-quality treatment.
Overeaters Anonymous
Available in more than 75 countries, Overeaters Anonymous is a community of individuals recovering from an unhealthy relationship with food and body image. There are a number of ways to join this community, including participating in a 12-step program (much like Alcoholics Anonymous) and joining face-to-face, online, or telephone meetings.
On the organization’s website, you’ll also find videos and podcasts, including episodes in Spanish and for young adults, as well as personal stories of recovery.
Obesity Care Advocacy Network
Founded in 2015, the Obesity Care Advocacy Network is committed to changing how obesity is perceived and approached in the United States. It is made up of a diverse group of organizations whose main goals are to improve access to evidence-based treatments, eliminate stigma and weight bias, and foster innovation for new obesity interventions.
On their website, you can get facts and data on obesity, find advocacy opportunities, and read news stories on advancements in obesity legislation and the latest scientific research around obesity care.
Obesity Matters
The Canadian organization Obesity Matters is made up of individuals who have lived with obesity and are now working to provide education on healthy weight interventions, fight weight bias, and empower others to connect with like-minded individuals. This member organization can be joined at no cost and provides a number of resources, such as community forums, support groups, and the latest science-based information about obesity.
You can also participate in wellness workshop series, learn about advocacy opportunities, and get information on how to join a clinical trial.
Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance
The STOP Obesity Alliance is made up of advocacy, consumer, business, and government organizations dedicated to reversing the national obesity epidemic in the United States. To move toward this goal, the alliance is committed to conducting research on improving obesity care and prevention; developing patient and provider tools to better facilitate respectful, productive conversations around weight; and advocating for policies that increase access to and improve obesity-related care.
