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Most obesity researchers in Canada don't know each other. An even larger number don't realize their field of research is relevant to obesity.

That's about to change. The Networks of Centres of Excellence's decision to fund the Canadian Obesity Network reflects a growing concern over the country's rising obesity epidemic – and an urgency to do something about it.

Dr. Arya Sharma is the founding Scientific Director of the new Network, and a world-renowned expert in obesity research and management. He is also the Canada Research Chair for Cardiovascular Obesity at McMaster University, the host institution for the Network.

Over the next two years, he intends to find out which researchers and health professionals in Canada do work that is relevant to obesity. Only then, he says, can Canada develop a comprehensive research program aimed at treating a "disease" that has been largely left untreated.

"When you look at obesity as a broad, societal, complex, biological phenomena of our times then you suddenly realize there's a lot of research going on," he says. "The problem is that researchers who focus on breast cancer, hip replacement research or psychiatry, for example, don't realize that their work can be very relevant to obesity."

Obesity and excess weight affects some 18 million Canadians and costs the Canadian health care system more than $4.3 billion annually. Approximately 12 million people are overweight. Another 5.5 million are obese, with 500,000 of those being morbidly obese. And most alarming, more than 500,000 Canadian children are also obese. The Canadian Obesity Network will provide an urgently needed response to this growing epidemic.

Network participants include scientists from 21 Canadian universities, more than 10 international institutes in North America and Europe, 15 non-profit organizations, governmental agencies, and 20 industry partners.
It has already identified 500 obesity-related health professionals, researchers and students from a wide range of disciplines, including behavioural psychology, advertising, agriculture, molecular genetics, population health, nutrition and bariatric surgery. Dr. Sharma estimates as many as 2,000 people from academia, government, industry and NGOs are working in obesity-related research across Canada.

The Network will provide an unprecedented opportunity for researchers, health planners, industry and policy makers to work together on innovative strategies to prevent and treat obesity. This will include interacting with everyone from school boards to parks and recreation departments. "It's everybody because obesity is ultimately a consequence of how our society functions," says Dr. Sharma.

Research priorities
The Network will work with its partners over the next two years to identify research priorities. For example, scientists are learning more about the biological and environmental factors that contribute to obesity. What's lacking, says Dr. Sharma, are a broad range of medical treatments for what he describes as a "serious and debilitating chronic disease. While for most chronic diseases we have a variety of treatment options, for obesity we are just at the beginning".

Network Supporters: Over 25 Canadian Universities Over 10 International Institutes Over 15 Non-Profit Organizations Over 10 Governmental Agencies Over 20 Industry Partners Industry links: Agri-Food Sports & Leisure Media & Entertainment Health Care Pharmaceutical Medical Devices Hospitality Advertising Appliances Insurance Biopharma Clinical Trials

Dealing with the stigma and misconceptions surrounding obesity will be another priority. The fact that little research has been done on medical treatments reflects a bias within the general population – and within the research community – that obesity is simply the result of lifestyle choices, and not a disease. "We're learning that obesity is far more complicated than just not eating right and not exercising enough."

While there has been an appreciable surge in funding for research on the causes and prevention of obesity, there remains a critical shortage of researchers and health professionals specifically trained in obesity prevention and management.

The Network hopes to entice more students to specialize in obesity by providing training opportunities, including an eight-day Obesity Boot Camp and apprenticeships with leading obesity researchers and clinicians. Of the 500 professionals participating in the network so far, about 100 are students and young professionals.

Even among doctors and health care professionals, Dr. Sharma says there is a dearth of basic understanding of obesity issues. To address the problem, the Network plans to develop educational resources that can be distributed to health professionals, and organize e-learning conferences and workshops.

"We will not be able to address this problem, even at a policy level, until health professionals have a basic understanding of what the issues are," explains Dr. Sharma. "The NCE is providing the opportunity Canada needs to increase training and education through networking. That's the first step in reducing the human and economic impact of obesity."

www.obesitynetwork.ca