The University Hospital Foundation commends the Government of Alberta and Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange for officially recognizing March 4 as World Obesity Day in Alberta. This important declaration highlights the need to reduce stigma and enhance care for the growing number of Albertans affected by obesity. 

Since 2018, the Foundation has been at the forefront of funding innovative projects to improve obesity prevention and care. In partnership with Novo Nordisk and the Government of Alberta, we launched a $2.5 million Strategic Partnership to advance preventative healthcare and personalized treatment strategies. This commitment would only be the beginning. To date, we’ve also worked extensively with the Alberta Bone & Joint Health Institute (ABJHI) and other essential partners on initiatives to transform access to obesity care through research, digital tools and community-based health programs. As a result of our philanthropy efforts, the Foundation distributes funds to researchers and clinicians through funding opportunities such as the Kaye Competition and Strategic Partnerships. 

Key projects:  

• Comparative Cost Analysis of Obesity in Alberta – Evaluating the economic impact of obesity to inform future healthcare investments. 
• Osteoarthritis Opportunity & Obesity Pharmacotherapy for Weight Management – A project evaluating whether, in addition to lifestyle recommendations and counselling, pharmacotherapy should be prescribed as a pre-operative drug for patients waiting for total knee arthroplasty and living with obesity.  
• Pharmacist-Led Obesity Care Intervention – A study that aims to improve access to care through pharmacist-led interventions in community pharmacies, allowing participants to receive personalized care to manage their weight and improve overall health outcomes.  
• Establishing a Primary Pathway to Care for High-Risk Women with PCOS – Improving obesity care for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by focusing on early intervention and prevention. The project aims to reduce the risk of diabetes (prevalent among woman with PCOS and obesity) by providing access to specialists such as endocrinologists, dieticians and mental health care providers. 
• Tailoring Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Management – One of several winners of the annual Kaye Competition, this study explores whether Semaglutide, an anti-obesity medication, improves energy expenditure during weight-loss intervention in individuals with obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in hopes of identifying improved and tailored treatments.   
• C-Health FOCUS Program Evaluation – The “Framing Overweight/Obesity Care Understanding and Support” (FOCUS) program aims to provide supportive and inclusive care through a comprehensive clinical health assessment, and education about weight bias, stigma and obesity as a chronic disease.  
• Alberta Bone & Joint Health Institute (ABJHI) Data Platform – In 2021 the University Hospital Foundation, the Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute (ABJHI), the University of Alberta and the Western Economic Development branch of the Government of Canada partnered to develop two health databases to create a robust data set for research and analysis, accelerating the time required to create recommendations and reach results. Access to this data provides healthcare teams with more information to provide precision care for patient.  
• My Viva Program (with ABJHI) – My Viva staff personally engage with patients, lead comprehensive evaluations, bi-weekly virtual group sessions covering nutrition, mental health, fitness, pain management, and stress for patients with obesity.  

Through partnerships with Novo Nordisk, the Government of Alberta ABJHI, C-Health, and My Viva, the Foundation is driving innovative approaches to obesity management, ensuring Albertans receive the right care at the right time. Our commitment to obesity-focused projects is reshaping the healthcare landscape, empowering patients with better access, resources and outcomes.