Best of Obesity Forum: Conversations in Obesity Care is organized by Healio.
Release Date: October 31, 2023
Expiration Date: October 30, 2024
Activity Description:
Obesity continues to be a significant health concern worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity rates have tripled since 1975, and in 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults were overweight, with 650 million of them classified as obese. The prevalence of obesity varies by region, with the highest rates observed in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. In the United States, the obesity rate is particularly high, with more than one-third of adults classified as obese. Obesity is associated with numerous health complications, including an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, and certain types of cancer. It also contributes to a lower quality of life and increased healthcare costs. Among the groups at risk for obesity are those with comorbid conditions. Efforts to combat obesity include lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise, anti-obesity medications, and surgery. However, patients may encounter weight biases that hinder meaningful conversations and the initiation of medical interventions. The ongoing rise in obesity rates suggests that more work is needed to address this global health challenge. This session, Conversations in Obesity Care, will incorporate didactic presentations covering considerations for obesity management, obesity as a chronic disease, comorbid conditions related to obesity, and initiating weight-loss conversations. It will also unravel obesity facts and myths.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:
• Recognize obesity as a chronic, progressive, yet treatable disease characterized by multifactorial etiology, appetite dysregulation, and significant comorbidities/obesity-related complications.
• Employ motivational interviewing and other approaches to effectively initiate discussions with patients about chronic weight management.
• Identify personal negative weight biases towards people with obesity that may be roadblocks to effective obesity management.
• Select patients with overweight and obese who may be at high risk of complications and may benefit from timely interventions for weight management.
• Discuss the negative perceptions associated with early-generation anti-obesity medications (AOMs), improvements in the safety and efficacy profiles of current AOMs, and the rationale for their early use in clinical practice.
• Utilize bariatric surgery for the treatment of overweight and obesity and in the management of post-surgical weight gain.
• Apply the pharmacological management of overweight and obesity based on evidence-based interventions, patient needs, and recent and long-term clinical data including evidence regarding weight regain after cessation of medication.
• Advise patients regarding the appropriate use of diets, exercise, and technology-driven interventions to assist in weight management.