Resources

Your path to better health.

Explore our comprehensive suite of resources focused on obesity prevention, management, and ongoing support, designed to guide you toward healthier lifestyle choices.

The Truth About Obesity

Discover how obesity is more than just weight; it's influenced by our brain, genetics, and the environment, making it hard to control.

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Obesity: A Disease of the Brain

Understand how changes in how we view obesity reveal that our brain's control over hunger, pleasure, and eating decisions plays a key role in weight challenges.

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Obesity Treatment Options

Pursue a balanced approach to managing obesity by learning from setbacks, finding your personal motivation, and discussing effective treatment options with your healthcare provider.

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Let’s Talk Physical Activity

Explore different forms of physical activity, from household chores to cycling, and how they contribute to health benefits like disease prevention and weight maintenance.

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Finding Your Best Diet

Learn how effective weight management involves choosing an eating style you can maintain for life, tracking your eating habits, and preferring whole foods over ultra-processed ones.

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Discovering Your “Best Weight”

Emphasize working toward a "Best Weight" that fosters overall well-being and happiness, rather than fixating on the scale, understanding that weight management is a lifelong endeavor with significant health benefits.

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Additional Resources

We’re happy to endorse the following organizations, who have assembled comprehensive resource libraries for understanding and treating obesity.

Obesity Canada

Obesity Canada

Understanding Obesity
The Obesity Society

Obesity.org

Information for Healthcare Providers & Patients

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Obesity? Obesity is a chronic medical condition resulting from the interplay of genetic, environmental, behavioural, and social factors. Obesity is not your fault. The typical definition is having a Body Mass Index - BMI - greater than 30. If left untreated, obesity can lead to a cascade of health concerns. How Can I Change My Eating Habits? Adopting new eating habits can be challenging, but it’s crucial for your overall well-being. Focus on three key areas: reducing calorie intake from food and beverages, creating a healthy eating plan, and practising portion control. Behavioural changes like setting realistic food goals, eating slowly, maintaining an eating schedule, and using smaller plates can also help. Understanding your social and environmental triggers, along with self-monitoring your eating habits, will support your weight loss journey. Remember, certain weight management medications can also assist with appetite control. Stay positive and take charge of your eating habits! Why Am I Hungry? If you find yourself constantly hungry, it’s not just in your head. Hormones in your body regulate hunger and fullness, but these levels can become imbalanced, leading to an increased appetite. Additionally, your brain forms reward associations with high-fat, high-calorie foods, which can trigger cravings even when you’re not physically hungry. In today’s environment, where fast food is readily available, these factors can easily lead to overeating. Why Do I Eat So Much? Your brain plays a significant role in controlling your appetite, often pushing you to eat for reasons beyond physical hunger, such as stress, emotions, or food-reward associations. Hormonal imbalances can also make it difficult to feel full. The fast food industry capitalises on this by offering ultra-processed foods loaded with addictive additives. Recognizing these triggers can empower you to change your relationship with food and combat overeating. Why Am I Not Losing Weight? It’s common to hit a plateau after initially losing weight. This is due to the body’s set point theory, which suggests that your body naturally tries to maintain a certain weight range. When you lose weight, your body perceives it as a threat and responds by increasing your appetite and slowing your metabolism, which can stall your progress. This doesn’t mean your efforts are in vain—diet and exercise can help you maintain your progress and avoid regaining weight. It can be frustrating when the scale doesn’t budge despite your efforts. The set point theory explains that your body may resist weight loss by trying to return to its previous range. However, don’t give up! Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and possibly weight management medications can help you overcome this challenge and achieve lasting results. Believe in your ability to make a change—you’ve got this! How Can I Eat Less? Understanding what drives your cravings and overeating can help you manage your appetite. Prescription medications can work in different ways—some make you feel fuller sooner, while others may help reduce cravings of certain foods. Partial meal replacements also help to serve to fill you up with a low caloric intake. Additionally, getting enough sleep and managing stress are essential in controlling your appetite and making healthier food choices. And don’t forget to drink plenty of water! How Does Obesity Affect Mental Health? Obesity often goes hand in hand with mental health challenges. The stigma and discrimination faced in various aspects of life can lead to emotional eating as a coping mechanism, which can contribute to further weight gain. Research shows that individuals with obesity are at a higher risk of experiencing depression, and those who are depressed are more likely to develop obesity. How Does Obesity Affect Physical Health? Obesity significantly increases the risk of several serious health conditions, including certain cancers, stroke, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea. These conditions can diminish your quality of life and, in some cases, can be life-threatening. The good news - these conditions can be prevented by obesity management strategies!

What is Obesity?

Obesity is a chronic medical condition resulting from the interplay of genetic, environmental, behavioural, and social factors. Obesity is not your fault. The typical definition is having a Body Mass Index - BMI - greater than 30. If left untreated, obesity can lead to a cascade of health concerns.

How Can I Change My Eating Habits?

Adopting new eating habits can be challenging, but it’s crucial for your overall well-being. Focus on three key areas: reducing calorie intake from food and beverages, creating a healthy eating plan, and practising portion control. Behavioural changes like setting realistic food goals, eating slowly, maintaining an eating schedule, and using smaller plates can also help. Understanding your social and environmental triggers, along with self-monitoring your eating habits, will support your weight loss journey. Remember, certain weight management medications can also assist with appetite control. Stay positive and take charge of your eating habits!

Why Am I Hungry?

If you find yourself constantly hungry, it’s not just in your head. Hormones in your body regulate hunger and fullness, but these levels can become imbalanced, leading to an increased appetite. Additionally, your brain forms reward associations with high-fat, high-calorie foods, which can trigger cravings even when you’re not physically hungry. In today’s environment, where fast food is readily available, these factors can easily lead to overeating.

Why Do I Eat So Much?

Your brain plays a significant role in controlling your appetite, often pushing you to eat for reasons beyond physical hunger, such as stress, emotions, or food-reward associations. Hormonal imbalances can also make it difficult to feel full. The fast food industry capitalises on this by offering ultra-processed foods loaded with addictive additives. Recognizing these triggers can empower you to change your relationship with food and combat overeating.

Why Am I Not Losing Weight?

It’s common to hit a plateau after initially losing weight. This is due to the body’s set point theory, which suggests that your body naturally tries to maintain a certain weight range. When you lose weight, your body perceives it as a threat and responds by increasing your appetite and slowing your metabolism, which can stall your progress. This doesn’t mean your efforts are in vain—diet and exercise can help you maintain your progress and avoid regaining weight. It can be frustrating when the scale doesn’t budge despite your efforts. The set point theory explains that your body may resist weight loss by trying to return to its previous range. However, don’t give up! Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and possibly weight management medications can help you overcome this challenge and achieve lasting results. Believe in your ability to make a change—you’ve got this!

How Can I Eat Less?

Understanding what drives your cravings and overeating can help you manage your appetite. Prescription medications can work in different ways—some make you feel fuller sooner, while others may help reduce cravings of certain foods. Partial meal replacements also help to serve to fill you up with a low caloric intake. Additionally, getting enough sleep and managing stress are essential in controlling your appetite and making healthier food choices. And don’t forget to drink plenty of water!

How Does Obesity Affect Mental Health?

Obesity often goes hand in hand with mental health challenges. The stigma and discrimination faced in various aspects of life can lead to emotional eating as a coping mechanism, which can contribute to further weight gain. Research shows that individuals with obesity are at a higher risk of experiencing depression, and those who are depressed are more likely to develop obesity.

How Does Obesity Affect Physical Health?

Obesity significantly increases the risk of several serious health conditions, including certain cancers, stroke, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea. These conditions can diminish your quality of life and, in some cases, can be life-threatening. The good news - these conditions can be prevented by obesity management strategies!