NEWS

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LATEST NEWS

Americans Support Laws to Prohibit Weight Discrimination

American adults are in favor of legislation to prohibit weight discrimination, particularly in the workplace, according to a Yale University study published online in the journal Obesity. The study was conducted by Obesity Society members, Rebecca M. Puhl, Ph.D., and Chelsea A. Heuer, M.P.H., of Yale’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. They found considerable public support for workplace laws that would prevent employers from refusing to hire, denying promotions to, assigning lower wages to, or terminating qualified obese employees based on their weight.

Press Release

CBS News Report: Where America Stands on Obesity

With a seemingly endless array of fast food restaurants and high-calorie meal options throughout the nation, Seth Doane finds out "Where America Stands" in the ongoing fight against obesity.

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THE OBESITY SOCIETY NEWS

New Media Guidelines and Image Gallery Promote Unbiased Coverage of Obesity in the News

Together with the Obesity Society, the Rudd Center has created a new set of comprehensive media guidelines to assist content creators in the portrayal of overweight and obese persons and to help ensure that stigmatizing and pejorative portrayals of overweight and obese persons are avoided in journalistic media, entertainment and ads.

As part of this initiative, the Rudd Center has also launched a free image gallery on www.yaleruddcenter.org. With a current collection of more than 150 professional photographs that portray obese individuals in ways that are positive and non-stereotypical, the image gallery is available to anyone with a need for online or print-quality graphics.

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The Response of the Pediatric Section to the March 16, 2010 Federal Register Request for Comments on the Actions of the Child Obesity Task Force

In response to the request for comments on actions that can be taken to solve the problem of pediatric obesity, the Pediatric Section of The Obesity Society recommended research in the following key areas:

A. Promote cross-cutting, trans-disciplinary, multi-level research that seeks to understand how policy changes influence children's behavior and biology
B. Support social, economic, and behavioral research that seeks to understand the factors that shape children's eating and activity behaviors.
C. Increase research aimed at identifying modifiable causes of childhood obesity in the first 2 years of life that can be targeted for early intervention.
D. Increase research on pre-natal and early post-natal origins of adulthood obesity and chronic disease

The Pediatric Section also strongly encouraged opportunities to stimulate dialogue and guidelines for productive and responsible partnerships.

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Donna H. Ryan, MD, Elected President of The Obesity Society for 2009-2010: Intends to Continue Society's Contributions to Eradicating Obesity and Helping Those Affected

November, 13, 2009, Silver Spring, MD –The Obesity Society, the leading professional and scientific organization dedicated to the study of obesity, has named Donna H. Ryan, MD, an internationally renowned obesity expert, as its new president for 2009-2010. Dr. Ryan accepted the gavel from Robert F. Kushner, MD, outgoing president, at the society’s 27th Annual Scientific Meeting, Obesity 2009.

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The Obesity Society Honors Leading Scientific Professionals at Obesity 2009: Awards Presented at the 27th Annual Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society

Washington, DC, November, 2009, At Obesity 2009, the 27th Annual Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society, several leading professionals were honored for their research, scientific achievements, advancements, and contributions to the field of obesity.

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Obesity Driving America's Healthcare to a Tipping Point: Obesity Experts and Surgeons General Call on Policymakers to Adopt Obesity Recommendations

Silver Spring, MD, September 9, 2009, The Obesity Society and other steering committee members of the Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance, and two former US Surgeons General, join together today to develop effective recommendations to urge policymakers to act on the inclusion of obesity as the largest and most urgent driving factor in healthcare reform.The Obesity Society supports the four targeted recommendations for effective healthcare reform issued by the STOP Obesity Alliance at the meeting held today at the Newseum in Washington, DC: 1) standardized and effective clinical interventions, 2) enhanced use of clinical preventive services, 3) effective evidence-based community programs and policies, 4) coordinated research efforts.

Full Details STOP Obesity Alliance

Solutions: Eradicating America's Obesity Epidemic

Silver Spring, MD, August 2009, The Obesity Society authored an article that was published in the Washington Times indicating solutions to eradicate the obesity epidemic. The article highlighted the need to change the public perception and understanding of obesity, promote education on the complex causes and consequences of obesity, increase access to professional treatment, and change national policies.

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The Obesity Society Calls Billboard Campaign Offensive and Off-Target

Silver Spring, MD, August 2009, The Obesity Society strongly opposes the current billboard campaign from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) promoting vegetarianism at the expense of stigmatizing overweight and obese persons. The PETA billboard ad displays an image of an overweight woman in a bikini, with the text “Save the Whales – Lose the Blubber: Go Vegetarian.” This ad is an unmistakable example of stigma and prejudice against individuals who are overweight and obese. The campaign is disrespectful and offensive, and is not an effective or appropriate way to encourage vegetarianism or healthy eating behaviors.

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The Obesity Society Position on Recent Criticism of Surgeon General Nominee Regina Benjamin

Silver Spring, MD, August 10, 2009, The Obesity Society would like to make known its response to recent criticism regarding President Obama’s nomination of Dr. Regina Benjamin, his candidate to serve as the next Surgeon General. Critics have suggested that because Dr. Benjamin is overweight, this sends the wrong message from the person who will be the public face of America’s health initiatives. A person’s body weight provides no indication of an individual’s character, credentials, talents, leadership, or contributions to society.

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Thirteen Professional Societies Join Forces to Develop Obesity Medicine Certification Examination: Unprecedented Collaboration Seeks to Prepare Physicians Dealing With Epidemic

Silver Spring, MD, August 5, 2009 -- For the first time, ten professional societies have united to jointly develop an Obesity Medicine Physician Certification (OMPC) Examination. The 18-month process of establishing an examination was initiated by The Obesity Society in 2008 with an expected completion in March 2010. According to Dr. Robert Kushner, Chair of the OMPC Inter-Societal Steering Committee and President of The Obesity Society, “Approximately two-thirds of adults and 32 percent of children and adolescents are overweight or obese. In light of the complexity and significance of the problem worldwide, the time is right for training and recognizing physicians who are experts in the care of patients with obesity.”

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The Obesity Society Partners With Healthy Interactions(R) to Advance Obesity Prevention and Treatment

SILVER SPRING, Md. & CHICAGO--(Business Wire)-- The Obesity Society, the leading scientific society dedicated to the study of obesity, and Healthy Interactions, a global leader in health education, today announced the beginning of a five-year partnership. The collaboration will develop educational materials using Healthy Interactions proprietary Conversation Map educational tools to better support the medical treatment of obesity and the behavior change that is necessary for continued personal success.

Press Release About Healthy Interactions

Obesity Society Enters Strategic Partnership With The Art of Living

Coral Springs, FL – The Art of Living With Marilu Henner and The Obesity Society have entered into a strategic partnership to expand education on obesity, a condition affecting about 59 million American adults (National Center for Health Statistics).

Press Release About The Art of Living

Obesity Society Selects Executive Vice President

Silver Spring, MD – The Obesity Society, the leading professional and scientific organization dedicated to the study of obesity, is pleased to announce the selection of Francesca M. Dea, CAE, to serve as the Society�s Executive Vice President. Ms. Dea comes to The Obesity Society with an accomplished record in nonprofit and small business management, strategic planning, and media relations.

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Industry News

Orexigen Therapeutics Submits Contrave New Drug Application to FDA for the Treatment of Obesity - March 31, 2010

Arena Pharmaceuticals Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Financial Results - March 12, 2010

Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Takeda Enter into Worldwide Agreement to Co-Develop and Commercialize Compounds for Obesity - November 2, 2009

BYETTA Approved for Expanded Use as First-Line Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes - October 30, 2009

Additional Data from the Qnexa Phase 3 Studies Presented at The Obesity Society 27th Annual Scientific Meeting - October 29, 2009

Orexigen(R) Therapeutics Releases New Efficacy Data for Contrave(R) in Late Breaker Presentations at the 27th Annual Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society - October 27, 2009

Preliminary Data from New York City Show Menu Labels Impact Food Purchases - October 26, 2009

2009 Press Releases

Donna H. Ryan, MD, Elected President of The Obesity Society for 2009-2010
(November 16, 2009)

The Obesity Society Honors Leading Scientific Professionals at Obesity 2009
(November 16, 2009)