Weight Management
The effects of game-changing GLP-1 medications on individuals and society was the topic of my recent keynote address at the Northwestern University Alumni Association event in Naples, Florida. Individuals on GLP-1 medications are changing how they eat, shop, live, play and get their healthcare and companies are taking notice. We usually think of big tech…
With the advent of powerful obesity medications that address the biological basis of obesity, the field of obesity care is rapidly shifting. To reflect this, the first Standards of Care on pharmacologic treatment of obesity published by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) were just released. I had the honor of serving on the ADA Professional…
Obesity care is a team sport. One clinician does not have to shoulder all the responsibility nor is expected to have the necessary expertise in all aspects of care. And yet, in some circles, you may think that team-based obesity care is a thing of the past as individuals get prescriptions for obesity medications with…
Before I help patients develop a personalized weight management plan, I want to better understand each person’s weight journey, that is, how they got to where they are today. Since no two patients are alike, providing personalized obesity care requires knowing more about each patient’s personal struggles, resources and life stressors. However, in the midst…
As you can see in this picture, I was a gymnast in high school. Being a gymnast was a part of my identity and I loved it – until I fell off the high bar during our state competition. Over time, my exercise identity changed to become a runner and more recently, a ballroom dancer.…
Planning your meals and snacks is a proven strategy for eating better and improving health. Though this does take some time, it doesn‘t have to be time intensive. In this blog, I share 3 tips that help our family stay on the healthy eating track: 1-Eat Better with Theme-Based Meals Themed meals break from the…
Despite the many recent breakthroughs in obesity medicine, misunderstandings about the disease of obesity persist among patients, clinicians and insurance providers. The disease of obesity is a complex, relapsing condition that requires multimodal therapies. It is not a personal choice or a failure of willpower. And yet people with obesity can be blamed and shamed…
Obesity affects nearly 40% of Americans age 65 and over, leading to an increased occurrence of heart disease, arthritis, high blood pressure, and impaired mobility among many weight-related diseases and complications. Though using a GLP-1 medication in this age group is an effective treatment for weight reduction, these drugs can also cause reduced muscle mass…
The new, highly effective injectable obesity medications have brought a new focus to the advancing field of obesity medicine. Health care professionals from multiple specialties are moving beyond weight loss to focus more on health gains. That’s because the research is clear regarding the many health benefits of taking GLP-1 medications. Clinicians are doing their…
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…
