ICPO was delighted to host its World Obesity Day Stigma Awareness Evening on Thursday 26 February, launching our activities for this year’s #AddressingObesityTogether campaign.
The event brought together more than 50 people from across Ireland for an evening of learning, discussion, and shared experiences focused on the impact of obesity stigma and the importance of improving understanding of obesity as a complex chronic disease.
A key aim of the event was to create opportunities for people living with obesity to engage directly with the latest science, research, and real-world evidence. While healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers often attend conferences and educational events, people with lived experience are not always afforded the same opportunities. ICPO was therefore pleased to extend invitations primarily to people living with obesity, ensuring that their voices remained at the centre of the conversation.
Despite the challenges of navigating Dublin’s busy evening traffic, attendees travelled from across the country to take part. The enthusiasm and engagement throughout the evening were remarkable, with discussions continuing well beyond the planned finish time and carrying on past 10pm.
Obesity remains a sensitive and often misunderstood topic, and ICPO is always mindful that not everyone feels comfortable being photographed or publicly identifying themselves as living with obesity. The reality that some attendees chose not to appear in group photographs serves as a reminder of the stigma that continues to exist. It is our hope that through continued education, advocacy, and open conversations, more people will feel confident and supported in sharing their experiences in the future.
ICPO would like to extend its sincere thanks to all of the speakers who generously gave their time and expertise to support the event. We are also grateful for the support provided by the European Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ECPO) and the Association for the Study of Obesity on the Island of Ireland (ASOI), without whom the event would not have been possible.
We were also delighted to welcome two representatives from UKCPO, whose attendance demonstrated the growing collaboration between patient advocacy organisations across Ireland and the United Kingdom.
The evening marked an important start to World Obesity Day activities and highlighted the value of bringing people together to discuss the realities of living with obesity, challenge misconceptions, and address stigma.
ICPO will be sharing additional photographs, reflections, and key quotes from the event as part of World Obesity Day on 4 March.
