Obesity at the hearth of our actions

Obesity is a major public health issue

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2022 approximately 2.5 billion adults worldwide were overweight, including 890 million who were living with obesity representing nearly 43% and 16% of the adult population, respectively. These numbers continue
to rise each year.

In Canada, more than two-thirds of adults have a BMI associated with overweight or obesity, and this trend is also affecting a growing number of young people.

These individuals are often facing significant health challenges and are among those most in need of support, yet they too often remain stigmatized. Access to appropriate medical, nutritional, and psychological support is essential to help them regain their health
and quality of life.

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

An easier access to bariatric surgical cares

We are committed to improving access to surgical care by raising funds to provide additional operating time outside of hospitals, thereby helping to reduce waitlists. Thanks to the donations we receive, we can fund bariatric surgeries and care for many patients who would otherwise have to wait much longer to receive treatment.

Comprehensive Support After Bariatric Surgery

Research shows that nutritional and psychological support is essential for individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery. Yet many do not have the financial means to access this vital care.
The Ronald-Denis Foundation therefore funds comprehensive follow-up care to help prevent relapse, improve both mental and physical health, and support patients in adopting healthy, sustainable lifestyle habits. The program is managed according to an annual budget and a predetermined number of patients supported each year.

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

Patients have access to bariatric surgery performed by surgeons from the three hospitals of the CIUSSS-NÎM, prioritized based on their position on the waitlist and their medical suitability for outpatient surgery. Thanks to the support of the Foundation, these procedures become available more quickly to those who need them most.

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 Comprehensive Post-Surgery Follow-Up (2025)

The Ronald-Denis Foundation is proud to support the post-bariatric surgery care program by providing funding for essential follow-up in nutrition, psychology, and counseling support.

In response to the growing needs of patients who have undergone bariatric surgery, this personalized support has become increasingly important. With limited resources available, many patients do not have access to the follow-up care necessary to prevent relapse and adopt sustainable, long-term lifestyle habits.

This program provides individualized support, including tailored nutritional guidance, psychological counseling, and relational support to help patients better manage their health and daily lives. Thanks to this funding, many patients will be able to benefit from this essential follow-up, contributing to improved overall well-being and greater success in their post-operative journey.

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