Obesity at the hearth of our actions

Obesity is a major public health issue

Globally, overweight and obesity are now associated with more deaths than underweight caused by starvation or disease. This is an unprecedented situation that affects all high and middle-income countries like Canada. This mortality is explained by the fact that obesity is a complex risk factor for chronic diseases and is associated with a number of socio-economic determinants.

Today we can speak of a global obesity epidemic. According to the WHO, more than 1.9 billion adults (or 26%) were overweight and, among them, there were 650 million obese (9%). The numbers have continued to rise, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Projections of obesity rates (BMI ≥ 30) 2017-2030 predict a 30% increase in cases solely in Canada. They are the sickest patients; they are the patients who have the least support… These people are constantly singled out.

The Foundation strongly believes that access to surgical care within a reasonable timeline is a right.

Operating time to reduce waiting lists

We are dedicated to facilitating access to surgical care by raising funds to purchase operating time outside of hospitals to reduce waiting lists.

Easier access to bariatric surgical care

Thanks to the donations received, we can finance bariatric operations and care for many patients who would otherwise have to wait much longer for treatment.

Our actions for people suffering from obesity

As of January 1st, 2018, the Ronald-Denis Foundation made it possible to operate more than 800 patients, having helped them to regain their health, at no cost to them or for the health care system, while reducing the delays, the waiting period.

Selection of patients and support protocol

The Foundation will enable operating on patients, based on their priority on the waiting list of the three hospitals part of the CIUSSS-NÎM and according to specific medical criteria, making sure they are fit for outpatient surgery. The Foundation makes sure to abide to the medical protocol which normally includes multidisciplinary monitoring – endocrinologist, nutritionist, digestive or visceral surgeon, psychiatrist, or psychologist – before and after surgical procedure.

Partnerships and intervention costs

The Foundation utilizes operating time in a specialized medical center (CMS) where physicians are part of the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) practice. The technical fees paid by the Foundation amounts to $12,000 per day . They are similar to the fees paid by the three hospitals of the CIUSSS-NÎM. Surgeons and anesthesiologists fees are paid by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ), as is the case for any surgery performed in a participating private CMS for procedures covered by the RAMQ.

Funding granted by the Fondation

Funding of a healthy lifestyle acquisition program for families (2024)

The Ronald Denis Foundation is delighted to contribute to the Cardiovascular Health Action Network, a globally recognized nonprofit with over 10 years of experience, with a donation of $15 000.

Facing growing needs among young people suffering from severe obesity, their regional mission is becoming increasingly crucial. With a limited budget, they now need to support children as young as 2 years old, without any adjustment to their funds. This is why they have launched a healthy lifestyle acquisition program.

This program enables them to visit the most affected families at home, provide personalized education, inventory their supplies, plan their meals, improve their eating behaviors, and organize grocery store visits. Their clientele, composed of young people often from low-income families and dealing with learning disabilities or genetic syndromes, greatly benefits from this support. Our donation will help secure 30 educational visits for the coming year, providing valuable support to these families.

To learn more about this network, visit their website

Funding of a research project on same day discharge for hypoabsorbtive Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in a high-volume bariatric center in Quebec

In 2024, we financed a project by the Departement of bariatric and minimal invasive, Hôpital du Sacré Cœur de Montréal, University of Montreal and the Departement of anasthesiology, Hôpital du Sacré Cœur de Montréal, University of Montreal.

Read the research report

Financing the establishment of a fitness circuit for young adolescents (2023)

In 2023, we financed a project for the Clinique Tremplin at Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital. The exercise circuit for young people suffering from obesity was a project that we wanted to see come to fruition and that we were pleased to support. The inauguration of the circuit took place in spring 2024.

Funding of a research project on bariatric care to treat obesity (2022)

In 2022, we funded the “REBORN” project, a research project with the CIUSSS-NIM (Hôpital Sacré Cœur de Montréal): “Research on bariatric care for obesity treatment”.

Learn more about the research

Funding of a nutrition and psychology service for bariatric patients at the HSCM (2020-2023)

From September 2020 to September 2023, we funded the BariOptimum pilot project at Hôpital Sacré-Cœur de Montréal. The project aimed to support patients who have undergone bariatric surgery in order to maximize the benefits of this intervention and to help them overcome the associated challenges.

It included nutritional monitoring and psychological support for bariatric patients who do not have access to these services in public hospital establishments, due to the lack of an integrated service offering for this purpose.

Learn more about the project

Funding of a research project on post-surgical outcomes at a Canadian bariatric center (2019)

In 2019, we funded the research of Anne-Sophie Struder, MD, Mark Magdy, MD, Ronald Denis, MD, Radu Pescarus, MD, Pierre Y. Garneau, MD, Henri Atlas, MD and Simon L. Bacon PhD. The research report “Five-year outcomes after surgery for class 1 obesity: a retrospective analysis of a Canadian bariatric center’s experience” was published in the Canadian Journal of Surgery in November 2022, presented at the CABPS (Canadian Association for Bartiatric) conferences. Physicians and Surgeons) and at the OFSO(Internation Federation of Surgery for Obesity) congress.

Learn more about the research

Do you want to finance a project related to obesity?

Investing in a project or supporting a cause represents the opportunity to take risks, but above all to serve as an incubator for innovative ideas to solve or reduce complex problems. We are proud to participate in and finance projects related to the causes that are close to our hearts.

Request funding