Canada's obesity care guidelines are globally renowned, yet many Canadians still face months-long wait times for treatment. Despite the World Health Organization (WHO) advocating for the adoption of Canada's care model, progress at home remains slow. The WHO's recent guideline on anti-obesity medications reinforces the chronic disease model that Canadian experts have championed. This model aligns with Canada's 2020 clinical guidelines, which emphasize lifelong care, including timely diagnosis, mental health support, and pharmacotherapy or bariatric surgery when appropriate. However, the paradox persists: while the world follows Canada's lead on paper, many Canadians still struggle to access the care outlined in these guidelines. Public coverage for anti-obesity medications remains inconsistent, and training gaps leave many clinicians unprepared to treat patients effectively. Bariatric surgery wait times are lengthy, and a coordinated federal-provincial-territorial framework is needed to implement guidelines for behavioural support, pharmacotherapy, and surgery. Ultimately, before we can improve the lives of Canadians affected by obesity, we need to improve the system that is supposed to care for them.
