Arya Mitra Sharma

Arya Mitra Sharma was Professor of Medicine and Alberta Health Services Chair in Obesity Research and Management at the University of Alberta and medical director of the Alberta Health Services Obesity Program (2007-2021). In 2006 he founded and was scientific director (2006-2021) of the Canadian Obesity Network (now Obesity Canada) and past president of the Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons. He also served on numerous committees of professional organizations including The Obesity Society (TOS) and the International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO). Since 2021, he is retired (professor emeritus) and freelances occasionally as a speaker and research, educational, and strategic consultant for commercial and non-commercial organisations.

Life and career Born in Berlin (West) Germany in 1959, he moved to India in 1965 where he lived till 1977 after graduating from the Frank Anthony Public School, New Delhi. On his return to Germany in 1977, he received his Abitur from the Weidig Gymnasium, Butzbach, Hesse before taking up his medical training at the Free University of Berlin from which he graduated in 1986. In 2002 he was awarded a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Cardiovascular Obesity Research and Management and was appointed Professor of Medicine at McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. In 2007 he was awarded the Alberta Health Services endowed chair in Obesity Research and Management and appointed Professor of Medicine at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, where he is also currently the medical director of the Edmonton Region Bariatric Program. In 2005 he founded the Canadian Obesity Network (now Obesity Canada). He is also a founding member and current president of the Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons. He writes a daily obesity blog (Dr. Sharma's Obesity Notes) and has given media interviews on global, national and local TV, radio and print media.