Supported By: an educational grant from Lilly

Program Description

The growing obesity epidemic in the United States places a burden on both primary care and specialty providers. Despite the well-known evidence of the risks associated with obesity, healthcare professionals remain hesitant to address weight loss with patients, lack confidence in using weight loss pharmacotherapy, and struggle to support patients in the lifelong journey to sustained weight loss. Because of the lack of availability of specialists in obesity management, much of the responsibility to manage obesity falls on primary care providers. However, primary care providers often cite lack of time, competing priorities, and lack of experience as top reasons for failing to prioritize weight loss, even though it is often the underlying cause to many patients’ metabolic comorbidities (eg, diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, sleep apnea), which often take priority.

This live satellite symposium with simulcast will feature a panel of leading obesity experts. Key areas of focus will include current challenges in obesity management, strategies for overcoming barriers to treatment of obesity, and tips for implementation of obesity management in practice. Panel discussions will emphasize practical information for healthcare professionals that can be shared with primary care and community-based colleagues to improve the care of patients with overweight and obesity across multiple areas of practice.

Speakers

Joanna Miragaya MD, PhD, FACE, ABOM Diplomate
Wellstar Health System
Department of Endocrinology
Holly Springs, GA

Daniel Bessesen MD
University of Colorado, School of Medicine
Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes
Professor of Medicine
Denver, CO

Jamie Almandoz MD, MBA, FTOS
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Internal Medicine/Endocrinology
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
Weight Wellness
Medical Director
Dallas, TX