Shoppers Drug Mart Expands Obesity Care Access Through Obesity Canada Partnership — Loblaw Companies Limited

Event summary

Shoppers Drug Mart and Obesity Canada announced a collaboration on July 8, 2026 to expand access to obesity care in Canada.
The partnership focuses on advancing awareness of obesity as a chronic disease, reducing stigma, and promoting evidence-based care resources.
Shoppers Drug Mart's Weight Management Program offers free virtual services with nurse practitioners, dietitians, and pharmacists in participating provinces.
The program is currently available in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

The big picture

This collaboration aligns with the growing trend of retail pharmacies expanding into chronic disease management, particularly as primary care access remains a challenge in Canada. The partnership leverages Shoppers Drug Mart's extensive retail network and Obesity Canada's expertise to address a critical healthcare gap. With obesity-related conditions like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease on the rise, this initiative could set a precedent for how chronic diseases are managed outside traditional healthcare settings.

What we're watching

Program Expansion: The pace at which Shoppers Drug Mart will expand the Weight Management Program to additional provinces and how this affects patient access.
Regulatory Dynamics: Whether Obesity Canada's clinical practice guidelines will influence broader healthcare policy in Canada.
Operational Integration: How effectively Shoppers Drug Mart integrates multidisciplinary care into its existing pharmacy services.