With exciting new obesity medication treatments available, I’ve seen clinicians from all specialties showing interest in the latest obesity care breakthroughs.
For example, cardiologists, liver specialists, gynecologists, orthopedic surgeons and even dermatologists are paying more attention than ever before.
Specialists along with their team of advanced practice physician assistants and nurse practitioners typically work within their own healthcare “silos” – the cardiologist’s team focuses on the heart, liver teams, the liver, orthopedic teams, the joints, and so on.
Since these new medications touch so many specialties, it raises some very important questions:
- Will an increased interest in obesity care change a specialist’s practice?
- What does this mean for patients seeking obesity care?
- Who is the best clinician to take charge of one’s obesity care?
Here are some of my recommendations to guide patients and inform clinicians when breaking down these silos:
1-Identify One Central Provider
Patients don’t want three providers managing one condition.
Though primary care providers and their advanced practice provider teams may not be weight management experts, they can be experts in knowing about their patients and their medical history.
Although this is a good place to start, it’s not the only path.
It is possible that a different provider like your cardiologist or endocrinologist, for example, may want to take a leading role in your obesity care.
Patients need to be assertive and ask different health care providers directly to determine the best fit.
Asking “Who do you think is the best person to manage my obesity care” will help clarify responsibilities among your treating clinicians.
2-Discuss Improved Health Outcomes (that Go Beyond Weight Loss)
Improving weight management outcomes that include better health and quality of life is an overarching goal shared by all specialists.
Focusing only on weight loss is too narrow.
Here’s where different specialists and primary care professionals can appreciate the overlapping health benefits from obesity care treatments, such as:
- Improved metabolic parameters, such as lower blood lipids, blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
- Less inflammation affecting many health conditions.
- Less joint pain, improved functional level and mobility and less reliance on pain medications.
3-Review Beneficial Lifestyle Modification Strategies
Lifestyle modification is foundational to all obesity care treatment modalities.
However, not every specialist is trained in lifestyle counseling.
I encourage patients to be assertive and ask each specialist about the lifestyle modifications shown to help their condition along with referrals when needed to registered dietitian nutritionists, exercise specialists, health psychologists or obesity medicine specialists.
I am passionate about helping clinicians with varied backgrounds provide effective and efficient evidence-based patient-centered weight management care within their existing practices.
Toward that end, my new book for clinicians, Patient-Centered Weight Management, is now available for preorder.
RK
Robert Kushner, MD
