The past four weeks have been incredibly busy for the Irish Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ICPO), highlighting the growing demand for patient advocacy, education, and support across Ireland.
During this period, ICPO submitted a patient evidence submission to the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE), ensuring that the lived experiences of people living with obesity continue to be represented in important healthcare discussions and decision-making processes.
Education and awareness remained a key focus, with the team delivering four obesity stigma education talks, as well as presentations to the National Integrated Care Programme (NIPC), General Nursing Practice (GNP), and Occupational Therapy services in Louth. These sessions provided valuable opportunities to share insights into the realities of living with obesity, challenge misconceptions, and promote person-centred care.
Supporting people living with obesity remains at the heart of everything we do. Over the four-week period, ICPO facilitated four online peer support meetings and one in-person support meeting, creating safe spaces for people to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another.
ICPO also presented at the NIPC Conference and attended the Global Heart Hub Unite Summit, strengthening relationships with healthcare professionals, patient advocates, and policymakers while ensuring that the voice of people living with obesity continues to be heard.
One particularly special milestone was the celebration of our 300th Zoom peer support meeting. What began as a way of bringing people together has grown into a thriving community that continues to provide support, encouragement, and connection to people across Ireland.
To mark this achievement, we were delighted to welcome special guests Dr. Cathy Breen from the Association for the Study of Obesity on the Island of Ireland (ASOI) and Clinical Programme Lead Professor Donal O’Shea, who joined members in celebrating this significant milestone.
As we reflect on an exceptionally busy month, we remain grateful to our volunteers, speakers, healthcare partners, and members whose commitment and participation continue to drive ICPO forward. Together, we are helping to improve understanding of obesity, reduce stigma, and ensure that people living with obesity have access to the support, care, and respect they deserve.
