Record numbers at the recent Public Conversation on Health, Wellbeing and Obesity, highlighted the critical need for scientific, expert information to help us all live well.
The RCPI Annual Public Meeting on Monday, 20 October 2026, unpacked prevention, care, and management of obesity – a chronic relapsing disease – in a thought-provoking and informative discussion featuring an expert panel, moderated by journalist and author Alison O’Connor.
The panel included patient advocate Susie Birney, endocrinologist Professor Donal O’Shea, Dietician Orla Walsh, Physiotherapist Mike Murphy, and Public Health Researcher Dr Ximena Ramos-Salas. Sharing insights and guidance to support positive health and wellbeing from childhood to older age, the discussion explored stigma, education, and clinical intervention for obesity care. The discussion highlighted the complexities of prevention, care, and management of obesity.
The Public Meeting was an official Associated Event of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union and is part of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland Annual Conference.
1.1 billion people in the world live with obesity, according to the World Health Organisation. That is 1 in 7 people worldwide. Unlike other chronic diseases, there is a stigma attached to obesity – the idea that obesity is about weight and weight can be gained and lost by all individuals equally. That stigma can be a barrier to care, with many people living with obesity going undiagnosed.
During the public meeting, we heard powerful perspectives from Susie Birney, who shared her experience as a patient advocate living with obesity, and Prof Donal O’Shea, who highlighted the importance of understanding and treating obesity as a chronic disease.
Dr Ximena Ramos Salas shared insights from her work at the forefront of tackling stigma and weight bias, which has informed Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Obesity in Canada, Ireland, and Chile.
Orla Walsh and Mike Murphy emphasised the value of a holistic approach to health and wellbeing focused on integrating healthy, sustainable behaviours into daily life. Orla emphasised the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and encouraged people to seek evidence-based information from qualified healthcare professionals. Mike further highlighted the benefits of small changes and incremental improvements that can yield significant rewards. Rather than focusing on the number on the scale, they both focus on improvements that you notice in day-to-day life.
For anyone who registered for the event, the recording is available through Attendee Hub. You will find the link in your confirmation email.