About

Founded in 1967, the ASO has become the UK’s foremost charitable organisation dedicated to the understanding, prevention and treatment of obesity.

ASO Mission

The ASO aims to develop an understanding of obesity through the pursuit of excellence in research and education, the facilitation of contact between individuals and organisations, and the promotion of action to prevent and treat obesity.

ASO Objectives

  • The promotion of professional awareness of obesity and its impact on health
  • Educate and disseminate recent research on the causes, consequences, treatment, and prevention of obesity
  • Prioritise obesity and provide opinion leadership in the UK
  • Enhance understanding of the prevention and treatment of obesity throughout the UK
  • Improve the quality of obesity education throughout the UK
  • Forge links between individuals and organisations concerned with the study of obesity throughout the UK
  • Support the role of patient and public involvement in obesity research
  • Connect active researchers and practitioners from diverse disciplines who contribute to the development of a UK perspective on obesity.
  • Provide appropriate input on the UK perspective at a European and international level through EASO and the World Obesity Federation.

The ASO is affiliated to the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) and the World Obesity Federation (WOF) and organised the inaugural International Congress on Obesity, held in London in 1974. ASO was the founding body of the highly respected International Journal of Obesity.

The ASO is also a member of the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA), a coalition of over 30 charities, medical royal colleges and campaign groups who have joined together to fight obesity.

Governance

The ASO is a registered charity (charity no.1100648) and a UK company limited by guarantee (company no.4796449). It is governed by an elected unpaid Board of Trustees, who meet up to three times a year. Trustees report annually to the ASO membership.