EDMONTON – Primary Care Alberta (PCA) and Obesity Canada have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly pursue obesity prevention and management initiatives within Alberta's primary healthcare system.
“Recognizing obesity as a chronic disease means ensuring Albertans have access to respectful, evidence-informed care closer to home. This partnership will help strengthen prevention and management in primary care, support healthcare teams with the tools they need, and improve health outcomes for Albertans and their families.”
- Justin Wright, Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services
The collaboration will support implementation of PCA's Chronic Disease Prevention and Management priorities and strengthen the capacity of Alberta's primary and community care teams to deliver integrated, team-based obesity prevention and care. Helping Albertans manage obesity can create opportunities to reduce impacts on other areas of the health system.
"No single organization can address the growing impact of chronic disease alone. By bringing together provincial leadership and national expertise, this partnership reflects a shared commitment to improving obesity prevention and management and supporting better health for Albertans."
- Kim Simmonds, CEO for Primary Care Alberta
Nearly one in three Canadians is living with obesity, a chronic disease associated with more than 200 downstream conditions. The economic cost of inaction in treating obesity in Canada reached $27.6 billion in 2023, including healthcare costs and impacts on employment, productivity and income
“People living with obesity have faced healthcare systems that do not consistently recognize or treat obesity like other chronic diseases. This collaboration is an opportunity to change that in Alberta by helping primary care teams put evidence into practice, build more connected pathways to care, and create experiences where people are treated with dignity and without weight bias.”
- Lisa Schaffer, Executive Director for Obesity Canada
The MOU was signed in April 2026 and outlines six areas for potential collaboration:
Through the collaboration, Obesity Canada will bring expertise, evidence-informed resources and education to support obesity prevention and management across Alberta’s primary healthcare system, including support for integrating principles from the Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines into primary care.
The agreement marks an important step in strengthening collaboration on one of Alberta’s most significant chronic health challenges, with a shared focus on improving health outcomes for Albertans through evidence-informed prevention and care. The agreement builds on the province’s continued leadership in treating obesity. In March 2025, Alberta became the first Canadian province to recognize obesity as a chronic disease.
Over the coming months, PCA and Obesity Canada will work together to advance the priorities identified in the MOU through the Obesity Care Partnership Steering Committee, including development of provincial care pathways, workforce education initiatives, clinical guidance and approaches that support stigma-free, evidence-informed obesity prevention and management.
Work is already underway. PCA is developing a Chronic Disease Prevention and Management action plan, with obesity included as a focus area. The first meeting of the Obesity Care Partnership Steering Committee will take place on August 26, 2026.
Care is a lifelong commitment for Primary Care Alberta. We plan, fund and support primary healthcare across the province, improving access to care providers and offering front-line services through Health Link 811 and public health teams. Throughout the health journey, we are by your side – managing, preventing and reducing illness. Along with our partners, we nurture the connections our communities need to thrive and strengthen the health of all Albertans.
Obesity Canada is a national registered health charity and Canada’s leading voice on obesity. We connect science, lived experience, and advocacy to change the way Canada sees, supports, and understands people affected by obesity. As steward of the Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines, we help translate evidence into education, resources, and better care. Our work drives progress in healthcare, policy, and public understanding — and is made possible by the support of donors, partners, and funders who share our vision for a healthier, more equitable future.
