Christine Ferguson

Christine Ferguson is Director of the STOP Obesity Alliance (www.stopobesityalliance.org) and Research Professor at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.

Professionally and personally, Christine has fought the obesity battle and knows the stigma surrounding this medical condition firsthand. She grew up playing varsity sports in a highly competitive environment and was in terrific shape before joining the work force.

As her weight climbed, she found herself more than 100 pounds overweight as the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health in Massachusetts under Governor Mitt Romney. After numerous failed attempts at weight loss programs and struggling with the conflict of needing to be a role model for healthy living, Ms. Ferguson had bariatric surgery that helped her successfully lose more than 125 pounds and tremendously improve her health and fitness.

Christine has also run the Rhode Island Department of Human Services and served as counsel and deputy chief of staff to the late U.S. Senator John H. Chafee (R-RI). Among her many accolades is recognition as one of the Most Influential Health Policymakers by Faulkner & Gray Healthcare and one of the top 25 Most Influential Working Mothers by Working Mothers Magazine.