Lived Experience Voices: The Summit may be over, but the work continues
Lived Experience Voices
The Summit May Be Over, But the Work Continues
Jason Krynicki, lived experience advocate
Jason reflects on meeting advocates from 18 countries in Mexico, and why lived experience must shape obesity care.
My name is Jason Krynicki I am a member of the Obesity Action Coalition, serve on its National Board of Directors.
When I traveled to Mexico for the Live Experience Conference, thanks to a generous scholarship from the World Obesity Federation, I knew I was going to have an incredible opportunity to learn, connect, and share my experiences.
What I didn't expect was just how deeply the experience would affect me.
I have been advocating in the obesity space since 2016, shortly after having bariatric surgery. Since then, my journey has continued to evolve. I work for a bariatric program as an insurance coordinator, giving me the opportunity to see firsthand some of the challenges people face when trying to access obesity care. In 2021, I underwent a revision to gastric sleeve surgery, and in 2022, I began treatment with a GLP-1 medication.
My experiences have given me a unique perspective - not only as someone living with obesity, but also as someone who works within the healthcare system and advocates for better care, greater understanding, and an end to the stigma surrounding obesity.
More recently, my journey has brought some difficult challenges. I am currently beginning to wean myself off GLP-1 medication because of an eating disorder that developed during my time on the medication. That experience has reminded me once again that obesity care cannot be one-size-fits-all. Every person has an individual story, individual needs, and individual challenges.
That is why lived experience matters.
Finding my global community
From the very first day of the conference, when we broke into groups, I had the opportunity to meet advocates from around the world.
People from different countries, cultures, healthcare systems, and backgrounds came together with something incredibly important in common: our lived experience and our desire to make things better.
Over the four days, I met so many amazing people that I now consider friends. We shared stories, laughed together, challenged each other's perspectives, and learned from one another.
Standing alongside advocates, clinicians, researchers, and people with lived experience from 18 countries was both inspiring and energising.
It reminded me that although our healthcare systems and experiences may be different, many of the challenges people living with obesity face are remarkably similar.
Stigma remains. Access remains a challenge. Misunderstanding remains.
And, too often, the voices of people actually living with obesity are missing from the conversations that determine how obesity is discussed, researched, treated, and addressed through policy.
The power of lived experience
One of the most meaningful lessons I took away from the conference was the importance of making sure lived experience has a seat at the table.
People living with obesity should not simply be the subjects of research or the recipients of healthcare. We should be partners in shaping the future of obesity care.
Our experiences can help researchers ask better questions.Our perspectives can help clinicians better understand the realities their patients face. Our voices can help policymakers understand what happens when policies meet real life.
And our stories can help challenge the stereotypes and stigma that continue to surround obesity.
Advocacy isn't just about speaking for ourselves. It's also about creating space for others to be heard.
Leaving Mexico changed
I arrived in Mexico ready to learn.I left with new friendships, fresh perspectives, and a renewed sense of purpose.
This experience changed me.
It reminded me why I started advocating in the first place and why I continue to do this work. There are moments in advocacy when the work can feel overwhelming. Progress can feel slow, and the challenges can sometimes seem bigger than any one person can tackle.
But then you meet people from 18 different countries who are doing the same work, fighting for the same principles, and sharing the same hope for a better future.
And you realise that none of us are doing this alone.
The work isn't over
The summit may be over, but our mission continues. There is still important work ahead to ensure that lived experience remains at the center of policy, healthcare, research, and public conversations about obesity.
We need to continue challenging stigma. We need to continue advocating for access to compassionate, evidence-based care. We need to continue making sure that people living with obesity are included in the decisions that affect their lives. And we need to continue building a global community where people can learn from one another and support one another.
Real change doesn't happen overnight.
But it does happen when passionate people come together with a shared purpose.
I am incredibly grateful to the World Obesity Federation for giving me the opportunity to be part of this experience and to everyone who made these four days so meaningful. Most of all, I am grateful for the people I met. The conversations we shared. The stories we exchanged. The friendships we created. And the reminder that our voices matter.
I leave Mexico more inspired, more connected, and more committed than ever to continuing this work—not just for myself, but for all people living with obesity.
The summit may be over, but the work continues. Until we meet again.
Blog by Jason Krynicki, lived experience advocate
Lived experience voices
Lived Experience Voices is World Obesity Federation's series sharing first-hand stories from people living with obesity around the world, in their own words. Have a story you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you - get in touch with our Communications team.
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