Tampa, FL. – In response to the growing need for the patient voice to be represented on the global scale, the Global Obesity Patient Alliance (GOPA) is proud to form to ignite and inspire global change for people with obesity. Officially launching today, GOPA is a brand new organization comprised of obesity patient organizations from around the world who are committed to working together collaboratively and passionately to increase advocacy and amplify the global voices of individuals with obesity.
With more than 650 million lives impacted worldwide, it is time to change the narrative and address the bias and misconceptions of obesity, along with the importance of recognizing obesity as a chronic disease. Regardless of region or culture, obesity remains a complex disease that is not well understood by the public and carries persistent and pervasive weight bias. There has never been a greater need to create a more organized global patient voice to stand-up for the needs and interests of people living with obesity.
“What unites us in this movement is the relentless pursuit of creating positive change in the lives of people with obesity. GOPA was formed to find and unite organizations that represent the needs and interests of people with obesity around the globe. Learning from one another and ensuring the growth of the voice of the individual is crucial. While issues may vary based on culture or region, we are all united by our undying passion to see a world where people who live with obesity are treated fairly and have access to the care they need and deserve,” said Kristy Kuna, current acting GOPA Secretariat.
Initial activities of the Alliance will focus on coming together to share key learnings about issues and challenges faced by respective organizations, partnering on initiatives that amplify the patient voice, and encouraging the joining and formation of new obesity patient advocacy groups through the Alliance. Current members of the Alliance include: Adipositasforeningen (Denmark); Adipositaschirurgie Selbsthilfe Deutschland e. V. (Germany); European Coalition for People Living with Obesity – ECPO (Europe); Obesity Action Coalition – OAC (United States), Obesity Canada (Canada), and Obesity UK (United Kingdom).
To learn more about GOPA, please visit www.GOPA.org.
The Global Obesity Patient Alliance (GOPA) ‐ a unified voice of obesity patient organizations from around the world ‐ is dedicated to igniting and inspiring global change for people living with obesity. GOPA and its member organizations work collaboratively and passionately to increase advocacy to amplify the voices of individuals with obesity across the globe.
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