OMA Member Story: Mississippi Obesity Society

In an effort to combat obesity, the Mississippi Obesity Society stands as a strong example of the dedication and compassion that is needed to address a disease like obesity. Founded just a year ago, this dynamic organization is dedicated to improving the lives of Mississippians by enhancing health awareness and access to resources.

"Our overall goal for the Mississippi Obesity Society is to help our fellow Mississippians that are living with obesity, gain better access to healthcare, gain more information on how they can live healthier lives and work with our local government, to influence policy, to help those that are living with obesity in our Home State of Mississippi,” said Timothy Quinn, MD, Co-Chair of the Mississippi Obesity Society.

Even though they are just a year old, the society has made enormous strides in advocating for obesity and providing resources for individuals living with obesity in Mississippi.

Governmental Affairs

Part of their success within the last 12 months included a resolution with the Mississippi House of Representatives. Christy Davis, DNP leads advocacy efforts and serves as co-chair for the Mississippi Obesity Society. Dr. Davis authored Mississippi House Resolution 43. This was part of their effort to positively impact legislators as they make their decisions that can impact positive changes that can help those living with obesity. The resolution's purpose was to reduce cardiometabolic risk by treating metabolic syndrome with a heavy emphasis on reducing treatment barriers for obesity. Through the resolution, they pursued other advocacy opportunities, such as advocating for Mississippi Medicaid to cover anti-obesity medications and working with other insurance companies on local policy changes.

“It’s been a fun journey. We’ve had a lot of support from local leaders, the Obesity Medicine Association, and a lot of important people have helped us along the way, and we really appreciate it,” said Davis.

Outreach Efforts

Back to School Drive

Hosted at a local shopping mall with over 1,000 attendees, this event offered physicians from a local medical school who provided physicals for children in attendance, a lot of whom aspire to participate in middle school and high school sports. They provided information to students and parents on local exercise opportunities including gyms giving out free memberships and a local walking program. Other organizations including Kroger attended as well, giving out vouchers with experts to help them select healthy options when grocery shopping.

Turkey Trot

This event helped over 1,500 attendees celebrate Thanksgiving, offering free turkeys and vouchers provided by Kroger. Attendees received their free turkeys and participated in a turkey trot throughout a local shopping mall where they visited a variety of vendors.

Dance and Aerobics

Just this past March, the society hosted a dance and aerobics event at a local gym with 250 participants to promote exercise and healthy eating options.

Each of the events provided attendees with information on exercise opportunities throughout the community and more information on healthy eating options available to them.

“Part of our core objective is not just to tell people or educate people about healthier options, but to provide them with opportunities. And that's what these 3 events did”, says Quinn.

Over the past 12 months, the Mississippi Obesity Society has continued to grow in numbers. They have over 50 members, many of which are physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.

Quinn says, “Obesity is the least-treated chronic medical condition there is. So, what we want to do is encourage more healthcare providers to provide treatment for those living with obesity and take advantage of a lot of these anti-obesity medication options.”

In just a year, the Mississippi Obesity Society has become a beacon of hope and advocacy for individuals living with obesity in the state. Through dedicated outreach, policy influence, and community events, the Society has made significant strides in raising awareness and improving access to healthcare. With a growing membership of passionate healthcare professionals and ongoing support from local leaders and organizations, the Society continues to improve the health of Mississippians living with obesity.