Who are we!!!

Jens-Christian Holm is the research responsible chief physician in pediatrics, Ph.D., and clinical external and research lecturer at the University of Copenhagen.

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Jens-Christian Holm has initiated and leads the Unit for Children and Adolescents with Obesity and The Holbaek Study (previously known as the Danish Biobank for Children and Adolescents with Obesity), both at the Pediatric Department of Holbæk University Hospital in the Region of Zealand.

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He obtained his Danish medical degree from the University of Copenhagen in 1993. Defended his PhD thesis titled "Physiological regulation of leptin. Changes in levels of leptin and its soluble receptor during weight loss and follow-up in boys and girls" at the University of Copenhagen in 2003. Became a specialist in Pediatrics in 2007. Also in 2007, Jens-Christian Holm was employed with the responsibility of establishing and leading the Unit for Children and Adolescents with Obesity at the Pediatric Department of Holbæk.

The unit has since been established as an internationally recognized treatment unit for children and adolescents with obesity, with documented effective treatment results, where 65-85% of the patients reduce their degree of obesity, while also reducing obesity-related complications (hypertension, dyslipidemia, fatty liver, sleep apnea, and prediabetes) by using 4.5 hours of health professional time per year. Treatment results are independent of social class, degree of obesity, obesity-related family disease, and 15 common genes associated with the development of obesity in childhood.

Jennifer L. Baker is the research leader of the "Life Course Epidemiology" research group in the Section of Epidemiology. Jennifer obtained her Ph.D. in Human Nutrition from Cornell University. Jennifer has established a research program investigating the causes and long-term consequences of childhood body size and growth, based on the Copenhagen School Health Records linked with national health registers. Jennifer is involved in several scientific committees and serves as co-chair for the Childhood Obesity Task Force for the European Association for the Study of Obesity.

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Recognitions: 2017: Appointed as a Fellow of The Obesity Society (USA)

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2016: Member of the Handbook on Obesity and Cancer working group at the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France

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2013: Editorial Board member, International Journal of Obesity

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2012: European Research Council Starting Grant n° 281419, Project title "Childhood body size, growth and pubertal timing and the risk of cancer in adulthood" €1,200,000

As a 17-year-old, I weighed 145 kg, a significant increase from my previous weight of 85 kg when I was an active competitive swimmer. After quitting swimming at the age of 15, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Despite 25 years with diabetes, I have not experienced complications, highlighting the importance of a healthy lifestyle and weight control to improve health and avoid serious consequences

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I work as a school teacher and have been giving lectures on type 2 diabetes and lifestyle changes for the past 20 years. Four years ago, I established "MitIDT2D," an organization that fights against stigma and myths surrounding diabetes and addresses the need for mental health awareness.

My name is Maibritt Schmidt, and I am a strong advocate for recovering from binge eating disorder (BED). After undergoing a personal journey where I lost a total of 73 kg, I am now passionate about sharing my story and knowledge with others. With a focus on self-love and a positive approach, I aim to create openness around the challenging issues associated with BED, and I work hard to increase awareness and support for those struggling with similar issues.

To reach out to more people, I have started a blog here on Obesity Denmark, where I share my experiences, thoughts, and advice. I hope that my blog can serve as a source of inspiration and support for others in similar situations. In addition to my blog, I am also active on Instagram, where I share content and encourage open dialogue under my profile "bed_substans."

I am determined to continue my work of raising awareness about BED and creating a safe and supportive community for those in need.

My name is Michael Petersen, and I live in Herlev with my wife and two children. I work at Top Danmark and have faced challenges such as type 2 diabetes and obesity throughout my life. Instead of letting these challenges define me, they have motivated me to take control of my health. I was previously featured on DR1's TV program "U-turn," where I trained for two years under Chris Macdonald and was followed by health researcher Bente Klarlund Petersen. This journey has not only improved my physical well-being but has also inspired others facing similar challenges. I am not just a dedicated employee and family man but also an inspiring example of how persistence, support, and commitment can lead to positive changes in life.

For more than 35 years, I have lived with severe obesity, where weight has been a significant part of my daily life. Both because food occupied much of my thoughts and because there are many prejudices about people living with severe obesity.

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I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to create a podcast series about living with severe obesity and, importantly, about weight loss and well-being.

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The podcast will be a journey towards a life with lower weight and greater well-being. That's why I talk to people who are experts in various areas such as obesity, diet, psychology, habits, exercise, wellness, and much more.

Through the podcast, I aim to look ahead and, together with my guests, strive to gain more knowledge about achieving lower weight and greater well-being.

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Link to the podcast:

https://vægttab&Velvære.dk

Communication Professional

I am a communication professional with over 14 years of experience, specializing in B2C and B2B communication and marketing within the pharma/medico, lifestyle, and product placement industries.

I am dedicated to making a positive impact and am honored to support Obesity Denmark in their mission to have obesity recognized as a disease in Denmark. I actively work to change the stigma and taboo surrounding individuals living with obesity. With my expertise in communication, branding, and network building, I am confident in my ability to raise awareness of the obesity epidemic, foster understanding, and promote better treatment options for those affected.

Associated Expert Advisor at NGOtiate

I am Multi-Cultural executive with international commercial experience in the health care industry with exceptional success in pharmaceutical and biologic products. Key achievements in P&L management, sales, marketing, product development, profitability growth, and change management. Cultivated hundreds of relationships with wide variety of stakeholders; such as: key opinion leaders, government officials and patients associations.