The American Obesity Association is the only obesity organization focused on changing public policy and perceptions about obesity. In only a few years we have become
an authoritative source for policy makers, media, professionals and patients on the obesity epidemic. In this period of time we have established an impressive record of changing federal policy: having the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recognize obesity as a disease, providing evidence to the IRS to make the costs of obesity treatment eligible for the medical deduction, and having Medicare change its policy language on obesity as a disease.
The AOA Mission
The mission of the AOA is to act as an agent of change, move society to re-conceptualize obesity as a disease and to fashion appropriate strategies to deal with the epidemic.
Currently, the perception of obesity is one of failure of the individual. We want to change that perception to one that recognizes obesity as a complex disease involving more than personal behavior, such as our environment and genetic heritage.
The AOA's programmatic areas of activity include:
- Education
- Research
- Prevention
- Treatment
- Consumer Protection
- Discrimination and Stigma
Childhood and adolescent obesity is of special concern.
The AOA Strategy
We seek to act as an advocate before Congress, The White House and Executive Branch agencies and departments for policies in accord with our mission and goals.
We interact with all segments of the health care industry to recognize obesity and expand obesity treatment options.
We develop educational materials to explain our positions.
We create coalitions of like-minded organizations. We have worked with the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, American Society for Bariatric Surgery, Shape Up America!, the Obesity Law and Advocacy Center and the American Dietetic Association among others. The AOAšs Corporate members comprise the most prestigious and ethical companies in the obesity treatment field and include: Abbott Laboratories, Bristol Myers-Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, Slimfast, Weight Watchers Intl. Inc., and Wellspring Camps.
We communicate our positions through frequent contact with policy makers, testimony to Congress and federal agencies as well as through our e-newsletters and web site. We give presentations at a number of conferences and meetings. We receive very generous coverage in the nation’s press, including exposure in the New York Times, Wall St. Journal, Washington Post, Associated Press, USA Today. Our television appearances have included The Today Show, CNN, BBC, and C-Span.
The AOA's Goals and Accomplishments
- Make Obesity
a Public Health Priority
- Recognize Obesity as a Disease
- Support the Prevention of Obesity
- Include Obesity Treatment in Health Insurance
- Advance New Treatments of Obesity
- Expand Research on Obesity
- Improve the Understanding of Obesity
- Protect Consumers from Frauds and Scams
- Fight Discrimination and Stigma
- Support the Obesity Community
Organizational Information
The American Obesity Association (AOA) is a non-profit, Delaware corporation founded in 1995 by two notable researchers in the field of obesity, Richard L. Atkinson, M.D. and Judith S. Stern, Sc.D., R.D.
In late 1997, Morgan Downey was retained as Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer and the AOA opened its headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The AOA is exempt from federal taxes as a 501(c)(4) organization, which allows us to do an unlimited amount of lobbying. The AOA is supported by individual memberships, both professional and lay and by corporate partners.
The AOA also has a supporting organization, the American Obesity Association Research Foundation, Inc. (AOARF). The AOARF is incorporated as a non-profit in Delaware and is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization under the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation's purposes are to promote better understanding of obesity, to expand research on obesity, to develop better treatments, to eliminate the stigma and discrimination endured by persons with obesity and to promote the access to appropriate care by persons with obesity.
The Board of Directors is composed of leading researchers and clinicians in obesity, business executives and lay persons. The Advisory Council is composed of distinguished leaders in obesity.
