Media Release: Ayogo Welcomes ICO2016 Obesity Conference to Vancouver

VANCOUVER, BC. Ayogo welcomes obesity treatment developers, physicians, researchers, and product teams to Vancouver as they arrive from around the world to attend the XIII International Congress on Obesity (ICO2016). The ICO2016 obesity conference is hosted by the World Obesity Federation and the Canadian Obesity Network (CON) and will be held May 1 to May 4, 2016 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
“The ICO16 is a unique opportunity for us to hear from some of the leading obesity researchers in the world, and it has come to our doorstep,” said Paul Prescod, Chief Product Officer for Ayogo.
Ayogo, a Vancouver-based startup that specializes in digital support and mobile apps for people with chronic conditions, recently launched Picture It!™. Picture It!™ is an advanced digital support program for people with Class III obesity, who may also be preparing for bariatric surgery. It is now being used by some of the largest healthcare systems in the United States to help patients who struggle the hardest with obesity. Picture It!™ is a 12 week program that builds healthy habits that can influence long-term outcomes, through interactive content and challenges, a playful mobile interface and peer modelling. Picture It!™ produced significant improvements in health outcomes over treatment as usual, as shown in controlled trials.
“Like any smart startup, we’re always trying to improve and iterate on our products with input directly from the customer. It will be invaluable for us to have access to hundreds of obesity experts and healthcare providers” said Avi van Haren, Ayogo’s Director of Product Management.
Both members of the Canadian Obesity Network, Avi and Paul will be attending the ICO16 conference to learn from others and to solicit feedback on Picture It!™. Ayogo will be publishing their thoughts from the conference on Ayogo’s Patient Engagement Blog.
Ayogo is also designing a new product for families struggling with obesity. Ayogo has partnered with the Childhood Obesity Foundation and Merck Canada to develop a fully digital version of Dr. Jean Pierre Chanoine’s solution for obese teens called LiGHT™: Living Green Healthy and Thrifty.
About Ayogo. In 2014 Ayogo was recognized by the mHealth Journal as one of the 100 most innovative companies in the world. Founders Michael Fergusson and Paul Prescod head a team that includes experts in behavioural economics and psychology, user experience designers who specialize in patients with chronic conditions, a creative team with roots in the video game industry, top mobile and backend software programmers, and product designers who understand the customer and business needs of healthcare organizations, and the related security and HIPAA requirements. A Canadian exporter generating 98% of its revenues from sales outside of Canada, Ayogo received $2.5M in Series A investment in 2015.

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Media contact:  Mavis Dixon, press@ayogo.com at 888-680-9882 x514
Obesity or Healthcare contact: Avi van Haren,  https://www.linkedin.com/in/avivanharen