Gary Leong

Dr Gary Leong is a paediatric endocrinologist who specialises in treatment of children suffering with obesity and diabetes and its complications. A humane and very real person - not just a medical doctor – Gary loves working with kids and their families to help them work towards and enjoy healthier, happier lives.

For the people who care about letters and places, Gary's professional qualifications and experience is extensive (and impressive). He is an Associate Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Sydney Nepean Clinical School and Nepean Charles Perkins Research Hub in Western Sydney. He is a Senior Staff Specialist in Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes and the Clinical Paediatric Lead in the Nepean Family Metabolic Health Service and the Paediatric Diabetes Service at the Nepean Hospital. He is also in private practice at the Children's Clinic in Bondi Junction.
Prior to this, for 12 years Dr Leong maintained a joint clinical and research appointment at the Mater Children's Hospital and Queensland Children's Hospital (formerly Lady Cilento Children's Hospital) in Brisbane and The University of Queensland's Institute for Molecular Biosciences, where he conducted clinical and basic research into child obesity and metabolism.

He obtained a PhD from the Garvan Institute, The University of New South Wales in 2002 after completing his general paediatric and paediatric endocrine training in Sydney and Australia in 1992. His medical degree was obtained from The University of Melbourne in 1982. Dr Leong has memberships of several national and international paediatric endocrine and research societies and was formerly the Chair of the Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group Growth Hormone Advisory Committee, which assisted the Federal Department of Health by providing expert advice on growth hormone therapy in children with growth problems.

He's also the author of the inspirational book - Ride to Life. A no-nonsense program for breaking your family's cycle of obesity and connecting to a happier healthier life.
This book outlines a potentially life-changing program that Gary has developed called the 2020 Family Health Challenge. It encourages you to courageously and honestly confront the underlying reasons for the obesity affecting your child. But it is also about parents and children taking appropriate levels of personal responsibility and then taking action to make sustainable, manageable change for a better, healthier, active and more purposeful life.
This book attempts to solve the problem about what you can do as a parent when you think you have run out of options for a child suffering from obesity.

In addition to being in high demand for his professional knowledge and skills, Dr Gary Leong is a sought-after speaker for conferences and events. His key message for professionals and patients is consistent: healing and recovery from obesity is the responsibility of the individual, but it doesn't need to be done alone. It requires a team effort between parents and carers, children, and the medical and auxiliary professionals who are part of the journey towards a healthier and happier life.

Popular topics Gary speaks on include:

• The role of parents in a child's recovery from obesity
• How medical professionals can facilitate a child's recovery from obesity
• How parents and carers can navigate the recovery journey without losing their minds
• Practical steps to recovery for parents, children and professionals
• Why addressing obesity is important for the health of the planet

Each can be delivered as a keynote address (45–60 min), or a breakout session or discussion group exercise (30–90 min) at your conference or training event.