Highlights for the year include the Annual Convention, entitled “Obesity Attack” with key topics and speakers discussing relevant issues for weight management. For the first time, we are holding a one day Wellness Summit at the Megatrade Hall “Bawas Timbang, Dagdag Buhay” that will allow lay participants an enjoyable learning experience as they go through various booths to interact with experts. At the Summit, there will be an interactive lay forum, where questions will be answered and interesting exercise and cooking demonstrations will be enjoyed.

Senior Board Director Dr. Ramon Abarquez talks about obesity in a special population, the elderly while our energetic nutritionist Mrs. Sanirose Orbeta talks about dealing with food habits among teen-agers. Endocrinologist Dr. Gabriel Jasul Jr writes about balancing nutrition: underweight versus overweight while cardiologist Dr. Rogie Tangco ruminates about our world of excesses that led to obesity. Pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Sioksoan Cua gives an update on the successful kids’ summer workshop and a feedback on parents’ evaluation while nephrologists Dr. Lynn Gomez introduces us to a new complication of obesity, that of its effects on the kidney.

Obesity is and remains to be the world’s epidemic of our times, from developed nations to developing nations. It is the forerunner of many chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We at the PASOO aim to increase awareness of this national problem, to assist in early intervention, the Whiz Kids, tie up with the Philippine Basketball Association and hopefully be part of prevention which to date is prevalent not only among adults but among our children as well.