Advocates would like Quebec to follow Alberta and recognize obesity as a chronic disease

Obesity Matterrs executive director Priti Chawla says she hopes Quebec follows Alberta in recognizing obesity as a chronic disease.

The national advocacy group Obesity Matters is hoping the Quebec government changes direction and recognizes obesity as a chronic disease.

The group recently formed the Quebec chapter - “Parlons Obésité” – and was at the National Assembly in Quebec City to make the case for share a report along with recommendations to improve care for those in the province living with obesity.

Obesity Matters Executive Director Priti Chawla said almost 30 per cent of Quebecers (around 3 million people) are living with obesity, which is costing the province around $23 billion in direct medical costs and indirect costs.

“Quebec is the only province in Canada where it’s actually on the exclusion list on the RAMQ along with erectile dysfunction and alopecia, which means there are no submissions,” said Chawla. “It’s not just about diet and exercise. This really needs to be recognized as a chronic disease.”

In addition to costs to care for health issues associated with obesity, Chawla said there are costs that don’t turn up on the medical bills.

“Obesity results in absenteeism, it results in presenteeism,” said Chawli. “They talk about the cost of treating obesity, but by treating obesity, we want to look at the downstream costs.”

In February, Health Minister Christian Dubé said though the government is “very sensitive to people living with obesity-related issues,” Quebec “does not recognize obesity as a disease.”

A spokesperson for the minister reiterated his position on the matter in a statement to CTV News.

On World Obesity Day (March 4), Alberta became the first province to recognize chronic obesity as a disease.

“We recognize the impact obesity can have on health, including an increased risk of kidney disease, diabetes, and heart disease,“ Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said. ”Our government is committed to supporting prevention, treatment, and promoting better nutrition to help Albertans lead healthier lives."

Obesity Matters would like Quebec to follow that example and ensure better care that includes medications and bariatric surgery.

The group would also like more investment in training for health-care workers and to integrate obesity into prevention strategies.

“All along, this community has been stigmatized,” said Chawla. “They’ve been told, ‘You’re fat.’ There’s so much fat-phobia. They’ve just lived in shame and blame. We want that to end.”