Abstract:
More than 40 % of adults in the United States suffer from obesity. Worldwide, the most recent estimates includes over 650 million individuals with obesity.
Obesity is inextricably linked to many of the most common chronic illnesses like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, heart disease, sleep apnea, stroke, type 2 diabetes and 13 types of cancer. In recent years, clinical practice guidelines have emphasized the need for a chronic disease approach to obesity management. This is especially important given the high rates of recidivism seen with lifestyle modification for weight loss. When used appropriately in combination with lifestyle modifications, pharmacotherapy has an important role in the treatment of obesity and improves short-term and long-term outcomes. The field of anti-obesity drugs has been growing exponentially in the last decade. As a result, there are a growing number of physicians who are now focusing on obesity medicine as a career specialty. This year, in the US approximately 1400 physicians sat for the American Board of Obesity Medicine certification. This is six times the number of candidates from the first ABOM examination in 2012, and a 40% increase from last year. Despite a record number of physicians seeking Obesity Medicine Certification, only a small percentage have the opportunity to receive formal education in the in pharmacotherapies for the management of obesity and many are seeking to learn more. More importantly, physicians are seeking guidance on how to treat the most complex patients, those who in real life present to their offices. The proposed lecture will offer a case-based, practical guide to the use of AOMs across various obesity related comorbidities, as well as application of AOMs in complex clinical cases. This lecture will guide the audience on how to choose the best medication for their patients and in how to individualize the treatment of obesity across various comorbid conditions such as type 2 diabetes, psychiatric disease, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and renal disease. Additionally, weight loss is particularly challenging when medications for such co- morbidities favor weight gain. To optimize success, it is also imperative to recognize and address iatrogenic weight gain, which will also be discussed in the proposed lecture.
