An agreement has been signed between Primary Care Alberta and Obesity Canada, with a goal of recognizing and addressing issues related to obesity.
The partnership will support the implementation of PCA’s Chronic Disease Prevention and Management priorities and boost the capacity of the province’s primary and community care teams to deliver team-based obesity prevention and care. Officials note this work will create opportunities to reduce impacts on other areas of the health system.
“Recognizing obesity as a chronic disease means ensuring Albertans have access to respectful, evidence-informed care closer to home,” said Justin Wright, minister of primary and preventative health services.
“This partnership will help strengthen prevention and management in primary care, support health care teams with the tools they need, and improve health outcomes for Albertans and their families.”
Kim Simmonds, the CEO of PCA, said no single group can address the growing impact of chronic disease alone. “By bringing together provincial leadership and national expertise, this partnership reflects a shared commitment to improving obesity prevention and management and supporting better health for Albertans,” Simmonds stated.
Officials noted that almost one in three Canadians is living with obesity, which is a chronic disease linked to over 200 downstream conditions. In 2025, Alberta became the first province to recognize obesity as a chronic disease.
“People living with obesity have faced healthcare systems that do not consistently recognize or treat obesity like other chronic diseases,” said Lisa Schaffer, executive director for Obesity Canada.
“This collaboration is an opportunity to change that in Alberta by helping primary care teams put evidence into practice, build more connected pathways to care, and create experiences where people are treated with dignity and without weight bias.”
Officials added that the economic cost of inaction in treating the condition in the country reached $27.6 billion in 2023. That includes health care costs and impacts on employment, productivity, and income.
The MOU between PCA and Obesity Canada outlines six areas for potential collaboration:
- Provincial obesity prevention and management alignment;
- Development and implementation of primary care pathways;
- Workforce education and capacity building;
- Clinical practice guidelines and knowledge translation resources and supports;
- Healthy weight gain in pregnancy; and
- Stigma reduction and rights-based care approaches.
In the coming months, the two agencies will work together to advance the priorities listed in the agreement through the Obesity Care Partnership Steering Committee. The committee’s first meeting is scheduled for Aug. 26.
Officials added that work is already underway, with PCA developing a Chronic Disease Prevention and Management action plan, with obesity included as a focus area.
