Patient Centered Weight Management
How do you educate professionals about obesity care? I recently had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion about obesity medication (semaglutide) for the treatment of high-risk patients with cardiovascular disease (SELECT trial) and its 2-year outcome results (STEP 5) at the Obesity Week and American Heart Association meetings. It was sponsored by Novo…
This great line (adapted from the movie, Field of Dreams) reminds me of the trajectory of the field of obesity medicine as well as my career in it. When I started my career in the 1980’s, colleagues questioned my decision to develop a weight management program at a major academic medical center. Who knew that…
Lifestyle modification is foundational to all obesity care. This applies even to those taking the newer, highly effective obesity medications. Though the disease of obesity is complex, lifestyle modification can be simplified and should be targeted. One size does not fit all. This is the basis of my Six Factor approach to managing weight and…
Patient-centered weight management is tailored, personalized care. It’s what I’ve been practicing, teaching and researching for over 4 decades. It’s also the title of my new book, Patient-Centered Weight Management, published by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This book is an extension of my passionate desire to educate clinicians on improving the lives of…
In the 40+ years I’ve been practicing, recent clinician interest in providing obesity care has soared off the charts. I see it in the varied healthcare professional groups I speak to at conferences and through lectures and podcasts. Though the exciting new obesity medications may be what spurred initial interest, clinicians are also seeking guidance…
We are at a crossroads where the advancements in obesity science and treatment outpace a workforce that is not fully prepared to apply these breakthroughs. This is the first line in the Introduction to my just-released book published by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, called Patient-Centered Weight Management: The Six Factor Professional Program and…
Responses to treatment for overweight and obesity care vary across different subgroups and individuals. This has implications for both patients wanting to manage weight better as well as their treating clinicians. When studies report average responses to lifestyle modification interventions, medication therapies or surgical treatments, this means that some individuals exceed expectations while others lose…
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…
As a leader in obesity medicine, I have been passionate about educating clinicians on the best practices of providing care to their patients who are living with obesity. Toward that end, I’m excited to share that I have a new book for healthcare professionals coming soon, titled Patient-Centered Weight Management: The Six Factor Professional Program…
