Social Research, Policy, and Practice
Gretchen Tanbonliong, MS, MPH, RDN (she/her/hers)
Associate Director, Health & Wellness
Center for Healthy Aging
National Council on Aging
Arlington, Virginia, United States
Dorothea Vafiadis, MS (she/her/hers)
Senior Director, Center for Healthy Aging
Center for Healthy Aging
National Council on Aging
Arlington, Virginia, United States
Patricia Nece, J.D. (she/her/hers)
Immediate Past Chair, OAC Board of Directors
National Board of Directors
Obesity Action Coalition
Alexandria, Virginia, United States
John Batsis, MD, FACP, AGSF, FGSA, FTOS (he/him/his)
Associate Professor
Division of Geriatric Medicine, School of Medicine
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
When combined with common aging-related challenges, obesity, which is now recognized as a chronic condition, can create complex clinical situations. A particularly challenging factor is the issue of stigma from weight bias and ageism, both of which are significant barriers to meeting the individual needs of the person with obesity/overweight. The Obesity Bill of Rights (OBOR) was created in response to the urgent need to pave the way for a more equitable landscape where every person is respected and guaranteed unbiased, comprehensive management and treatment of obesity. This symposium will present multiple stakeholder viewpoints that led to the research and development of the OBOR; how it is operationalized in health care delivery settings; and how providers and patients may work collaboratively to achieve the research-informed principles articulated in the OBOR.
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Dorothea K. Vafiadis, MS (she/her/hers) – National Council on Aging
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Patricia Nece, J.D. (she/her/hers) – Obesity Action Coalition
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: John A. Batsis, MD, FACP, AGSF, FGSA, FTOS (he/him/his) – University of North Carolina