As I shared in an earlier post, I was named Director of the Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance in 2012. I wanted to update you on a couple of our most interesting and important projects.

One of our most important projects in 2012 was the creation of an online e-book Weigh In.

This book helps parents understand how to compassionately and productively address the inevitable and difficult questions about weight and obesity that come from our children. Here’s a Huffington Post article I wrote about Weigh In and it’s already in use by numerous organizations, government entities, schools, and parents.

Another key project was a year-long roundtable discussion among senior FDA officials, NIH officials, CDC officials, obesity experts, researchers, advocates, and others to understand the role of weight medications in obesity treatment. This resulted in a journal publication, webinar, and ultimately the FDA’s decisions to approve two new medications for the treatment of obesity – the first ones approved in 13 years.

Exciting times!