RCPI launches Professional Diploma in Obesity Care on World Obesity Day
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) is delighted to launch a new Professional Diploma in Obesity Care. This fully online, evidence-based programme is designed to equip healthcare professionals with the advanced skills needed to deliver world-leading, person-centred obesity care. Applications open today to mark World Obesity Day, with the first intake commencing in September 2026.
Developed by clinical specialists and co-designed with patient experts, the diploma addresses the urgent need for a coordinated, multidisciplinary response to obesity—one of the most significant and complex public health challenges facing Ireland and the world.
Dr Diarmuid O’Shea, President of RCPI, said: “Obesity is a chronic illness influenced by a wide range of biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors. That is why a multifactorial, evidence-based and stigma-free approach to prevention and management is essential. This programme reflects RCPI’s commitment to equipping healthcare professionals with the skills and understanding needed to deliver compassionate, person-centred care and to drive meaningful, systemwide change.
“Launching this programme on World Obesity Day emphasises both the scale of the challenge and the opportunity to transform how we understand and respond to obesity across the life course.”
The 10-month programme provides 60 CPD credits and is delivered through weekly online tutorials. It is delivered across three modules – Understanding Obesity, Obesity Management Strategies, and Obesity Equity & Health Systems Integration – equipping learners to:
Programme Co-Leads Prof Donal O’Shea and Dr Jean O’Connell, alongside Module Leads Dr Cathy Breen and Dr Ximena Ramos Salas, bring extensive clinical, research, and public health expertise to the faculty.
For more than 350 years, RCPI has set the benchmark for medical education and professional standards, with qualifications recognised worldwide for their academic rigour and clinical relevance.
Applications Now Open
The Professional Diploma in Obesity Care is open to doctors, nurses, and health and social care professionals working in clinical, community, and public health settings.