Lyne Mongeau

A dietitian-nutritionist and public health researcher, Lyne Mongeau is a leading figure in the evolution of practices and policies related to nutrition, weight management, and the promotion of healthy body image. She is known for her innovative, people-centred approach rooted in a collective vision of health that incorporates social, psychological, and environmental considerations.

After graduating from Université Laval with a bachelor’s degree in dietetics in 1981, then earning a master’s degree in community health and a doctorate in public health from Université de Montréal, Lyne Mongeau began her career in Québec’s health network before becoming a key player in rethinking our approach to nutrition. 

Since the early 1980s, she has questioned treatments that focus exclusively on weight loss. In response, she co-created the program Choisir de maigrir?, representing a major paradigm shift towards optimizing health and well-being regardless of body weight. This program, which would become the subject of her doctoral thesis, remains a benchmark within the health network.

As co-founder of the Collectif action alternative en obésité, now ÉquiLibre, she has played a major role in recognizing body diversity and combating weight-related stigma, particularly among young people, through flagship initiatives such as Bien dans sa tête, bien dans sa peau. At the same time, she has distinguished herself within Québec’s public service, notably at the Institut national de santé publique du Québec and the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, where she has been involved in the design and coordination of the government’s action plan to promote healthy living and prevent weight-related issues.

Lyne Mongeau’s influence extends to research, training, knowledge dissemination, and public policy development, both in Québec and internationally. An eminent speaker and author of groundbreaking scientific studies and reports, she has made a lasting mark on the profession through her visionary leadership and enduring commitment to public health.

Université Laval is pleased to award an honorary doctorate to Lyne Mongeau in recognition of her remarkable contribution to the evolution of knowledge, practices, and policies relating to nutrition and public health and the lasting impact of her leadership in service of the common good.