RACP takes on obesity

Auckland-based Fellow Professor Boyd Swinburn is Co-Chair of the Lancet Commission on Obesity and Chair of the RACP Obesity Working Party. He will be discussing the draft RACP Obesity Position Statement at an obesity panel session at RACP Congress 2017.

Seven other Fellows and trainees representing a range of specialties including endocrinology, paediatrics and public health medicine are members of the RACP Obesity Working Party: Professor Chris Bullen; Associate Professor Adrian Bauman; Dr Teuila Percival; Dr Jin Russell; Dr Simon Thornley; Dr Robyn Toomath; Dr Pat Tuohy.

The health consequences of obesity are many and varied – diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension are just a few – making it something that governments around the world are trying to combat. 

Paediatricians, cardiologists, specialists in urban areas, specialists in regional and rural areas, rheumatologists, respiratory and sleep physicians, oncologists, gastroenterologists, and many more specialists treat patients experiencing the effects of being overweight or obese.

The obesity panel session at RACP Congress 2017 will take an in-depth look at obesity, what is driving its increasing prevalence, who is at risk and what we, as specialists, can do to help our patients and our communities.

Professor Mike Ackland will Chair this session and other panelists will be:

• Dr Armand Casolin – Chief Health Officer, Sydney Trains and NSW Trains
• Professor Louise  Baur AM – Associate Dean Sydney University, Discipline of Child & Adolescent Health, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead Clinical School
• Ms Jane Martin – Executive Manager, Alcohol and Obesity Policy and Cancer Council Victoria and Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) and Vice President of the Australia and New Zealand Obesity Society.

Venue: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Date: Monday, 8 to Wednesday, 10 May 2017
Registration: Visit www.racpcongress.com.au