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UPCOMING EVENTS
January 6, 2010
PESI Healthcare: Weight Loss Coaching - Real Results
San Diego, CAFull Details
January 9-14, 2010 Keystone Symposia: Triglycerides and Triglyceride-Rich Particles in Health and Disease
Big Sky, Montana
Full DetailsJanuary 22 - 25, 2010 Sanibel Conference on Mass Spectrometry, From Structural Biology to Drug Discovery: New Roles for Mass Spectrometry of Nucleic Acids
St. Pete Beach, Florida
Full Details
January 24 - 29, 2010 Keystone Symposia: Adipose Tissue Biology & Neuronal Control of Appetite, Metabolism and Weight
Keystone, ColoradoFull DetailsJanuary 28-30, 2010
1st International Congress on Abdominal Obesity: Bridging the Gap Between Cardiology and Diabetology
Hong Kong, China
Full Details |
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Targeted for MDs, NPs, CNMs, PAs, RNs and Dietitians from family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics and women's health settings, this national conference, presented in affiliation with The Obesity Society and the Centers for Obesity Research and Education (CORE), will provide evidence-based, practical information and tools for helping overweight and obese patients lose weight and maintain their weight loss. For details and/or to register contact Contemporary Forums at 800-377-7707 ext. 0 or visit us online at www.contemporaryforums.com | |
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 Dear Society Members,
I'd like to recap for you the financial picture that TOS Secretary/Treasurer, Dale Schoeller, so eloquently drew for us during the Annual Business Meeting last October. It's not exactly a picturesque Monet landscape, but it's not quite a raucous Picasso portrait either. Rather, it is simply a picture of reality that TOS leadership faced and has been correcting. And, I think it is important for all of you to understand where we are and how that impacts you, as a TOS member.
For reasons that aren't pertinent, there was a period that the leadership didn't have a clear understanding of our financial position. Once it became clear, we saw that in Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2009 our total revenue was $1,583,753 and our total expenses were $3,258,536 creating a net loss of $1,674,783. This was the result of year-over-year increases in expenses combined with lack of recognition of the changes in fundraising opportunities and the economic crisis.
In budgeting for FY 2010 (our current budget year) the Finance Committee and Council were much more conservative, finding extensive expense savings and more accurately projecting revenue. However, even the most conservative budgeting still left us with a projected $250,000 net loss for FY 2010 unless our fundraising efforts are more successful than planned. Clearly this is not ideal but due to earlier responsible planning, we have a Reserve Fund that is helping us get through this difficult time.
What does this mean to you? First, we can report that we have fiscally conservative policies and procedures in place to avoid a repeat of this situation. Second, we have turned the financial corner and can see the right revenue/expense balance in the future. Third, we have in place a solid staff at headquarters that are watchdogs of our resources with the goal of providing member value.
Most importantly, this mini-financial crisis we faced has forced us to retrench, examine our purpose and commit to our mission and members. In the coming year you will begin to see positive changes in our benefits and communication. We will be gathering profile information about you to communicate only what is of interest to you. And, we will be fielding a membership survey to learn more about what you want and need so we can provide greater value.
I'm looking forward to a successful 2010 and a budget that portrays a balanced picture with clear and precise lines.
Happy Holidays!
Donna H. Ryan, MD
President, The Obesity Society |
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 NOTE FROM THE EVP
2010 Resolution - TOS Members Promote Positive Social Change
The Obesity Society members are leaders in research, prevention and treatment of obesity. For this reason, you are the obvious leaders for promoting positive social change in the area of overweight and obesity. We, as an organization and individuals, must take full advantage of avenues for impacting change during the coming year and into the future.
TOS is the leading organization dedicated solely to the study of obesity. As such, we have built an organization that provides unique opportunities for members to further your science and profession. In the coming year, we will continue concentrating our efforts to build an even more robust member benefits portfolio and highlighting the ways you can utilize the value we provide.
Additionally, we will explore opportunities and avenues for impacting change. We will examine the most effective. And, we will find ways to marry the opportunities to have an impact with our exceptional members. Included among TOS activities that will help us achieve our goals are: increasing funding for research grants; increasing advocacy for obesity and developing the clinical community.
My commitment is to continually strive to improve your TOS experience. And my personal new year's resolution is to help TOS members see the value of your membership in supporting your career and to communicate ways you can participate in bringing about positive social change.
Warm Regards,
Francesca Dea
Executive Vice President |
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Legislation Seeks to Provide Federal Resources to Make Childhood Overweight and Obesity a National Priority
The Healthy Kids Act, HR 4053, introduced by Congressman James P. Moran of Virginia, seeks to address the issues of childhood obesity by establishing an Office of Childhood Overweight and Obesity Prevention and Treatment (COOPT) within the Department of Health and Human Services. The Director of this office would serve as the Federal government's champion and would be charged with evaluating the effectiveness of existing Federal policies, programs and research efforts and identifying future needs; implementing Federal support measures for carrying out a comprehensive long-term, national campaign to prevent overweight and obesity among the nation's children and youth.
One of the director's key tasks will be to help children adopt healthy eating patterns and the Director will work with the Secretary of Agriculture to identify three categories or tiers of foods and beverages:
- Healthy
- Acceptable
- No Nutritional Value
These food tiers would enable the Secretary of Agriculture to update the food standards for foods and beverages available to schoolchildren.
According to the provisions of the bill, these tiers would form the basis for guidelines, issued by the Director in consultation with the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, that would help control the marketing, advertising and promoting of foods and beverages to children and adolescents.
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NATIONAL CHILDHOOD OBESITY AWARENESS MONTH
Reps. Fudge and Granger to Introduce Resolution Designating September as Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge of Ohio and Congresswoman Kay Granger of Texas are to introduce a resolution to designate September as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. The event to formally introduce the resolution is set to take place in Washington, DC, Wednesday December 16 at the ESPN Zone.
Over the past four decades, obesity rates have soared among all age groups, but the increase was more than four-fold among children ages 6-11. Current data suggests that 16.3 percent of children and teenagers ages 2-19 are obese and 31.9 percent are obese or overweight.
While at risk for associated health problems when they reach adulthood, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes and other conditions, overweight and obese children often suffer from serious emotional and behavioral problems. They can also become targets of early social discrimination and low self-esteem.
Certain ethnic groups are also more vulnerable to childhood obesity. According to estimates from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 38 percent of Mexican-American children and 34.9 percent of black children are overweight nationally, compared with 30.7 percent of white children.
Financially, childhood obesity affects the nation's economy with some $14 billion annually in direct healthcare costs.
Currently, more than 30 national organizations, including The Obesity Society, have signed on as supporters of the proposed resolution. |
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CALL FOR SYMPOSIA PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS
Send in Your Proposals by January 8, 2010 Deadline
The Obesity Society Annual Meeting Program Committee is now accepting proposals for scientific sessions at Obesity 2010, the 28th Annual Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society. Please read the guidelines and instructions for submission.
The deadline for submission is 12:00 pm EST, January 8, 2010. |
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TOS AND OBESITY IN THE NEWS
Here is a round-up of press articles that refer to The Obesity Society and its members or to topics relating to obesity in general. Please note that all external links are provided as a courtesy and are not endorsed by The Obesity Society.
References to Articles Published in Obesity
http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/sns-health-eat-right-flash,0,4215253.story
Refers to:
"Eating Behavior and Obesity at Chinese Buffets", by Brian Wansink and Collin R. Payne (No MS #; Obesity 16:1957-1960, doi:10.1038/oby.2008.286)
Ho-Ho-Healthy? Parents Struggle to Watch Kid Diets
Donna Ryan, MD, Elected President of TOS
Diabetes Surgery Summit Lays Foundation for New Field of Medicine
Taxing Sugary Drinks
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5B843A20091209
Type 2 Diabetes Predisposes to Childhood Obesity
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091207123801.htm
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 THIS MONTH IN OBESITY
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About Us
The Obesity Society
8630 Fenton Street
Suite 814
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
301-563-6526 phone 301-563-6595 fax
If you have questions or information for potential inclusion in the newsletter, please let us know:
Jane Pratt, Director of Communications
Lauren Davis, Communications Assistant
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