Obese Britain Summer 2015.pdf

PROMOTION
to be the voice of the obese person, to take
action to break down the stigma surrounding
obesity and to support and work with partners
in the health sector who work with obese
people. We are not a fat acceptance club –
we are a group of individuals who recognise
the complexities that surround obesity and are
passionate to take action and do something
about it.
Unfortunately HOOP is not a ‘sexy charity’
and we are unable to shake a tin on street
corners to raise funds because the stigma
that comes along with the condition that we
are involved with is so strong that it is just
not practical. Our fund raising efforts tend to
come from within the group and from public
bodies and corporate organisations who are
willing and ready to hear our voice and value
our members’ experience. We are also very
privileged to have Fitness Expert Jessie Pavelka
as our Patron and his support has meant that
not only were we able to achieve charitable
status but the events he has supported have
raised the money to literally keep us solvent,
especially in the early days.
Our members (currently over 9000) want to
lose weight, improve their health and not be a
burden to society. The group acts as a mutual
support mechanism on a 24 hour basis via
a vibrant closed Facebook Group. There are
currently 34 admins who run the site and the
plight of those struggling with obesity is so
clear to see in the group. Getting the message
out to the general public is not so easy though.
Media coverage of the cost of obesity to the
country is ferocious and consistently regular.
Unfortunately the message is not a clear one
and the general opinion seems to be that
obese people are simply greedy and lazy
and only have themselves to blame – they
should eat less and move more.
Views like this are understandable
considering the lack of information that
is available surrounding the complicated
condition of obesity. It is our aim to break
down that wall of ignorance and to allow
the obese person to have their say and be
able to educate the citizens of this country
about what it can be like to turn to food as
a comfort. Unlike alcohol, drugs or smoking,
you cannot simply give food up. So it’s tricky
at best.
HOOP is now working with a number of
organisations who are ready to hear the
voice of the obese person. It is encouraging to
witness a slight shift in understanding and the
willingness to ask the expert by experience
what it is like to be obese. Understanding
this will then lead to treatments being created
along with a better patient experience
creating a higher success rate for weight loss
and lifestyle changes for the future.
FOR MORE DETAILS OF HOOP UK
VISIT WWW.HOOPUK.ORG.UK
Photograph: iStock
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