The Walk
Strides for Obesity is a fun-filled, family-friendly, non-competitive 3K walk that takes place in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Strides for Obesity is both an obesity awareness walk and a community fundraiser for the Halifax Obesity Network. In 5 years, Strides has raised over a net amount of $80,000 for patient resources and programs. This is all thanks to the participants, donors, and sponsors who are driven to make a difference and to bring awareness, respect and treatment opportunities to those living with obesity.
The Cause
It requires determination to take on obesity. Individuals living with obesity face widespread weight bias and discrimination - from strangers, educators, employers, health professionals, media, and even friends and family. This has negative consequences including shame and guilt, anxiety, depression, poor self-esteem, and body dissatisfaction that can lead to unhealthy weight-control practices. Obesity also increases the likelihood of various diseases, particularly heart disease, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, cancer, and osteoarthritis. In fact, obesity now outranks smoking as the biggest contributor to chronic illness in health care costs.
Here in Nova Scotia, we are losing the fight against obesity. The number of adults living with obesity in Nova Scotia has tripled in the last 30 years. The number of people living with obesity is still climbing and this has created an increased demand for bariatric surgery. At the QEII, the Obesity & Bariatric Surgery Clinic treats obesity using vertical sleeve gastrectomy. Sadly, this life-changing surgery has a 10-year average wait time; the longest wait time in Canada. More than just surgery, the program involves education, mentoring, lifestyle behaviour change, and chronic disease management. The need to increase these resources and access to treatment is dire.
The Funds
Every dollar you raise through Strides for Obesity helps the Halifax Obesity Network in their efforts to:
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- Increase public awareness of obesity as a chronic disease.
- Educate patients, families, the general public, and the government about obesity.
- Address the social stigma surrounding obesity.
- Invest in obesity patient programs to improve access to care.
- Advocate to the government and stakeholders on behalf of those affected by obesity.
- Improve the quality of life of Nova Scotians affected by the disease.
The First Step
Ready to make the first step to making a positive impact? Register for Strides for Obesity as an individual or as part of a team.
If you can’t make it to Strides for Obesity, you can still support the cause by making a donation to the event, a team, or an individual walker.
With your support, we can make
STRIDES FOR OBESITY!