Obesity is one of the most misunderstood diseases, with stigma and judgement contributing to the misconceptions, said Lisa Schaffer, executive director at Obesity Canada, during a session supported by Eli Lilly Canada at Benefits Canada’s 2025 Chronic Disease at Work conference.
Obesity is associated with more than 200 chronic illnesses and nearly one in three Canadians live with obesity, she said. It’s a complex, progressive and relapsing chronic disease that’s characterized by abnormal or excessive body fat that impairs health.
Obesity treatments have historically been centred on harmful narratives focusing on lifestyle and willpower instead of understanding the science of weight regulation, said Schaffer, while treatment should be coming from a perspective of empathy and solutions.
Read: Applying chronic disease principles to supporting plan members with obesity
The perception that obesity is a self-inflicted condition contributes to the lack of access to effective, evidence-based interventions provided by governments and private benefits plans, she noted. Indeed, a 2023 report by Obesity Canada found the cost of inaction in treating obesity has surpassed $27 billion — a number that includes health-care costs and indirect costs, which are three-times greater.
“If we treat obesity first as that upstream disease, we actually can reduce the ripple to many other health conditions and the costs associated with those. We also know that when governments and private benefits fail to recognize obesity as a disease, individuals are left without the care and resources they need. Treatments like medical nutrition therapy, behavioural interventions, medications and possibly even surgery remain very challenging for them to even access.”
Fewer than 20 per cent of the Canadian population with private drug plans have access to obesity medications, said Schaffer, and no provinces or territories cover these drugs.
Read: My Take: Obesity should be treated like other chronic conditions under benefits plans
As well, people living with obesity face social and psychological impacts due to weight bias, she said, noting bias, stigma and discrimination impact employees with obesity at every stage of the employment process from hiring, compensation, promotion and termination.
In addition, Schaffer said women are disproportionately impacted by weight bias — women with obesity are 16-times more likely to experience discrimination than men with obesity, While it affects women through increased rates of absenteeism and presenteeism, lower earnings and reduced labour force participation.
She urged plan sponsors to create inclusive workplaces; evaluate their facilities, programs and policies; educate employees; support prevention strategies; and advocate for obesity care and against weight bias and stigma.
Read more coverage of the 2025 Chronic Disease at Work conference.