STOP Obesity Alliance - Strategies To Overcome And Prevent
November 2014 Issue
IN THIS ISSUE
Alliance & Member News
News Round-Up


   

Earlier this month, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and The Obesity Society co-hosted ObesityWeek in Boston. It was wonderful to see so many STOP members in attendance, particularly for the release of our Why Weight? guide. While the agenda covered an impressive interdisciplinary program, there was a notable lack of people-first language throughout the conference, as others have noted, despite the presentations last year.

 

The guiding principle for people-first language is to emphasize obesity as a disease rather than an identity. People-first language reduces the stigma of obesity, consistent with the longstanding efforts of the STOP Obesity Alliance (STOP Policy Recommendations). We don't talk about cancer people or diabetes people, nor should we talk about "obese" people. When we talk about "obese" people, we are using the term to define who they are rather than describing the disease that they have. Simply put, people are more than their disease and should be treated as such. People-first language has been successfully adopted for most chronic diseases, but obesity has yet to attain the same goal. The promotion of people-first language will help reduce the prejudice those with obesity face on a daily basis. We need to eliminate the term "obese" from our vocabulary.

 

Weight discrimination has infiltrated the workforce, healthcare, education, and media. Such bias negatively impacts psychological wellness and physical health outcomes. To help resolve the prevalent effects of weight bias, appropriate use of weight terminology is crucial. Biased language is so distasteful among patients with overweight and obesity that 19 percent of patients said they would avoid future medical visits if this language were used consistently, and 21 percent said they would seek new doctors if they felt stigmatized. Patients with obesity typically obtain fewer preventive health services. Coupled with the adverse impact of weight bias on mental and physical health, avoidance of health care has a negative influence on patient outcomes.

 

Researchers, clinicians, advocates, and public health professionals are clearly committed to improving the health of those struggling with obesity. Increased adoption of people-first language needs to be emphasized and adopted more broadly. One way to make this happen at future ObesityWeek conferences is by instructing submitters to use people-first language when they submit their abstracts or panel proposals. ObesityWeek provides an excellent opportunity to educate the field about weight bias and people-first language. We hope that a newsletter like this will not be necessary next year. 

 

Thanks,



 
Alliance & Member News
Alliance & Member News
Several Alliance Steering Committee and Associate Members were featured in news stories this month including:

STOP Obesity Alliance Releases New Health Care Provider Guide

 

The STOP Obesity Alliance released a tool for health care providers that offers guidance and suggestions on how to initiate conversations with adult patients about weight and health. The tool, Why Weight? A Guide to Discussing Obesity & Health With Your Patients, is designed to help providers build a safe and trusting environment with patients to facilitate open, productive conversations about weight. Click here for more details.

 

ABOM Item Writing Committee Seeks New Members

 

The American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) currently is seeking new members for its Item Writing Committee. The Committee oversees the creation of new items for the ABOM item bank of examination questions and provides members with annual item writing training. Click here for more information.

 

ACE Unveiled New Short Film Titled "Stigma of Obesity"

 

American Council on Exercise (ACE) unveiled a short film titled "Stigma of Obesity" that will be featured as an official selection in the American Public Health Association Film Festival. In the video, ACE Certified Health Coach Lee Jordan describes the mindset of those impacted by obesity, a mindset he experienced on his journey of losing more than 270 pounds. Click here to watch the film.

 

ASN to Host Conference on Advances and Controversies in Clinical Nutrition

 

American Society for Nutrition (ASN)'s 2014 Advances and Controversies in Clinical Nutrition conference will take place Dec. 4 - 6 in National Harbor, MD. The conference will feature the latest research, advancements and best practices in clinical nutrition. Click here for registration information.

 

COPE to Host Webinar on Food Marketing and the Childhood Obesity Crisis 

 

MacDonald Center for Obesity Prevention and Education (COPE) is hosting a webinar to examine the contributions of food marketing to children's food preferences, food choices and diets on Dec. 10 from 12 - 1 p.m. ET. Ellen Wartella, PhD, Al-thani Professor of Communication and Professor of Psychology, Human Development and Social Policy and Medical Social Sciences at Northwestern University will deliver the webinar. Click here to register.

 

CON to Host Obesity Management Certificate for Post-Graduates

 

Canadian Obesity Network (CON) is hosting a certification for post-graduates to build knowledge in the area of obesity management and the role of inter-professional bariatric care. The certification will be held on Dec. 12 in Edmonton, Alberta. Click here for registration information.

News Round-Up
News Round-Up

How Diet-Pill Ads Fuel Obesity

November 13, 2014

The Atlantic

By Cari Romm

 

A study to be published in the upcoming issue of The Journal of Public Policy and Marketing found that simply being exposed to advertisements for weight-loss medication is enough to drive people toward unhealthier choices. Study researchers noted that the results were characterized by a boomerang effect - a message about losing weight nudging people toward actions making them more likely to gain it.

 

Obesity Plays Major Role in Triggering Autoimmune Diseases

November 10, 2014

Medical Xpress

 

According to a recent study, obesity plays a major role in triggering and prolonging autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's Disease and multiple sclerosis. Study researchers noted that obesity leads to a breakdown of the body's protective self-tolerance, creating the optimal environment for autoimmune diseases, and generates a pro-inflammatory environment likely to worsen the disease's progression and hinder its treatment. The study was published in Autoimmunity Reviews.

 

STOP Obesity Alliance Guide to Discussing Health and Weight

November 6, 2014

Dr. Sharma's Obesity Notes

By Arya M. Sharma, MD, PhD, FRCPC

 

The article highlights the STOP Obesity Alliance's new guide for health care professionals seeking to discuss obesity and health with their patients. The guide was released at ObesityWeek. The article states that the discussion tool focuses on skills for building a safe and trusting environment with patients to facilitate open and productive conversations about weight.

 

A Balloon for Obesity: An Option Between Medication and Surgery?

November 5, 2014

Los Angeles Times

By Melissa Healy

 

The article discusses the effectiveness of gastric balloons, several of which are expected to be considered by the FDA as weight-loss aids in the next year or so. According to the article, a new study suggests that, as a part of a structured program of diet and exercise, the gastric balloon may help people with obesity lose more weight than is possible with diet and exercise alone.

 

Weight Loss Surgery May Cut T2D Risk

November 2, 2014

MedPage Today

By Nancy Walsh

 

A study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology found that individuals with obesity who underwent bariatric surgery had an 80 percent decrease in risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers noted that these findings suggest that bariatric surgery could be a highly effective method for prevention of diabetes in patients with severe obesity.

  


The content on these web pages is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not designed to replace medical advice or professional medical services. The information should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your physician. Medical decisions should be made in consultation with your qualified health care provider. There may be variations in treatment that your health provider may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
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