The Board of Directors of the American Obesity Association established the American Obesity Association Research Foundation Inc. (AOARF) to fill the gaps in what is known about obesity. In October 2001, the Internal Revenue Service granted the AOARF tax-exempt status. That means that contributions, made by someone like you, are fully tax-deductible.
What Does the AOARF Do?
The AOARF has just started. Among the types of programs we want to fund are:
- Research on the fundamental genetic and metabolic causes of obesity.
- Ways to prevent obesity among children and adolescents.
- The best ways to treat obesity in children and adolescents.
- Obesity in the elderly and how elderly persons with obesity should be treated.
- Obesity among women, minorities and ethnic groups.
- Educating employers and insurers on the need to cover obesity treatments.
- Traineeships and mentorships for new researchers to enter the field of obesity research.
- Research on discrimination, legal protections and stigmatization.
- Training of doctors, nurses and other health professionals.
- Understanding how obesity causes heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and other disorders.
- Improving ways to understand and treat disabilities among persons with obesity.
- Educational campaigns to improve the public's understanding of obesity.
- The relationship of obesity to eating disorders, depression and other mental conditions.
- Behavioral Interventions and best practices in treating obesity.
The AOA has already started making important contributions to the understanding of obesity. We commissioned a new study on the costs of obesity and we funded a survey on parents' attitudes about their children's weight.
In special cases, we would like to provide financial support for needy persons in urgent need of life-saving procedures.
The AOA Board of Directors and their designees will make decisions on specific research and education grants. The Bylaws of the AOARF include stringent Conflict of Interest Provisions.
