FEDERACION LATINOAMERICANA DE SOCIEDADES DE OBESIDAD
(Latin American Federation of Societies of Obesity)
The formation of  FLASO

FLASO was established in Santiago City in Chile, in October 9 1990. 

Victor Saavedra, who worked with others to establish the federation and create the first statutes, became the founding president. 

The founding societies were: 

  • Argentinian Association of Obesity (now called SAOTA), 
  • Chilean Society of obesity (Sochob), 
  • Uruguaian Society for Study of Obesity, 
  • Brasilian Association for Study of Obesity(ABESO), 
  • Panameñan Association for Study and Treatment of Obesity(APPTO), 
  • Portorriquenian Society of Obesity, 
  • Colombian Association of Obesity and Metabolism (ASCOM). 
Representatives of each founding member organization were: Víctor Saavedra, Jorge Robinovich and Armando Varas E.,  Mario Montecinos for Chile, Jorge Braguinsky and Julio Montero for Argentine, Rafael Gomez Cuevas for Colombia, César de Leon P. for Panamá, Pedro Kaufmann for Uruguay, Alfredo Halpern for Brasil and Jaime Ariza for Puerto Rico. George A. Bray(USA) was also present and signed the statutes too.

The First Council took office in 1990 

1990 - 1993
President: Victor Saavedra(Chile)
Vice president: Jorge Braguinsky(Argentina)
Secretary: Armando Varas E.(Chile)
Treasure: Jorge Robinovich(Chile)
Deliberative board:
Argentina: Julio Montero(Argentina)
Brasil: Alfredo Halpern(Brasil)
Colombia: Rafael Gómez Cuevas(Colombia)
Panamá: César de León P.(Panamá)
Puerto Rico: Jaime Ariza(Puerto Rico)
Uruguay: Pedro Kaufmann(Uruguay)

1993-1996
President: Jorge Braguinsky(Argentina)
Vicepresident: Rafael Gómez Cuevas(Colombia)
Secretary:Mónica Katz(Argentina) 
Treasure: Carlos A. Markmann(Argentina)

1996 - 1999
President: Rafael Gómez-Cuevas(Colombia)
Vicepresident: Julio Montero(Argentina)
Secretary: Ivan Darío Escobar(Colombia)
Treasurer: Judith Kuhn(Colombia)
Elect president: 1999-2002
Julio Montero(Argentina)
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FLASO's CONGRESS

The first congress was held in  Santiago(Chile) from  October  9 to 11, 1990. 
President: Víctor Saavedra(Chile)

The second congress took place in  Montevideo(Uruguay). September 20 to 22, 1993. 
President: Pedro Kaufmann(Uruguay)

The third congress was convened in  Santafe de Bogotá (Colombia) in August, 4 to 7, 1996 
President: Rafael Gómez-Cuevas(Colombia)

The fourth congress will be held in Buenos Aires(Argentina).
September, 9 to 11, 1999. 
President: Julio Montero(Argentina)
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NEW MEMBERS

Since 1998 the Sociedad Ecuatoriana de Obesidad, Sociedad Peruana de Obesidad and Sociedad Cubana de Obesidad are the latest to join the federation.