The organization has gone a long way in managing obesity and its complications in the last 14 years of existence. Threats to the attainment of its mission are ever present. In order to overcome these threats, stronger evidences regarding the benefits of treatment recommendations have to be delivered; to focus marketing messages on intervention that truly contribute to improved outcomes.

Minimizing these threats is a complex one and would invoke a series of interventions and reinforcing actions. This one day workshop was designed as a first step in a series of activities.

The goal of the workshop was to strengthen the PASOO to become more effective in maintaining high standards of practice in the prevention and management of overweight and obesity. Specifically, it aimed to 1) revisit the PASOO vision, mission, and values statements and obtain buy-in and ownership for it, 2) conduct a SWOT analysis and develop means of possible alternatives, and 3) set the goals and directions for 2008.

The workshop design had three parts: Part I was to revisit PASOO vision, mission and core values; Part II was to conduct a SWOT analysis; and Part III was action planning which prioritizes the issues/problems and identifies activities and the responsible board member/s who will lead these.

Strategies

1.  
• Research
• Develop C5 performance indicators for programs
• Formulate a long-term research agenda for the society
• Collaborate with academe re research outputs
• MOA (re authorship)
• Collaborate with interested individuals and groups in wellness and obesity prevention, research
• Tap chapters for a wider population/scope for data gathering
2.  
• Organizational development
• Strategy is to include a category for organizational membership (e.g. Fitness First, weight watchers, etc.)
• Recruitment of new members
• Council for fitness, for behavior, etc.
• Capability building
• Exchange programs (international observership)
3.  
• Networking
• Intensive and regular information dissemination to include internet-based medium for education, research and advocacy
• Spearhead networking and collaborate with other societies
4.  
• Policy development
• Formulation of legislation for health policies
• Clinical practice guidelines for weight loss management
5.  
• Advocacy
• Develop new projects to promote healthy lifestyle
• Family-oriented values
• Community-based health program, i.e.. barangay
• Follow up on-going projects
6.  
• Education/Training
• Give materials/modules/scientific inputs to popular beauty and health centers
• Need for more training for primary care physicians in detecting weight problems and education of non-medical personnel in healthy lifestyle in the different regions
• Training the experts (may be overseas)
• Develop a speakers’ bureau