January 2015 Issue
IN THIS ISSUE
Alliance & Member News
News Round-Up


   

Happy 2015! Because the New Year offers the chance to set new intentions, STOP is proud to share with you the revised goals for the Alliance. STOP has always been committed to the prevention and treatment of obesity, and I believe these new goals will help our members further their work in research, policy, advocacy, and clinical care. These goals were built upon the previous STOP Recommendations that have guided our work since our inception, as well as the invaluable guidance and feedback we received from several of our members during the STOP Strategic Planning Meeting last year. As we work to achieve each of our goals, we recognize that health equity must be included to address the many disparities that accompany obesity.

 

The Goals of the STOP Obesity Alliance

 

1. Lead innovation

 

STOP will continue to lead and encourage innovation around treatment, intervention, and disease management by working to support, develop, and disseminate best practices for the treatment and prevention of obesity. In addition to identifying and encouraging promising innovation, STOP will work to lead a broad base of stakeholders in establishing best practices for the care of individuals with overweight and obesity.

 

2. Strengthen systems of care for patients with overweight and obesity

 

Research shows that few health care providers are positioned to provide effective screening and treatment to patients with obesity. Acknowledging factors like time constraints, a varying provider knowledge base, and the potential discomfort of weight-based discussions, STOP will promote the highest standard of care for patients with this disease.

 

3. Convene diverse stakeholders to address issues related to the care of patients with overweight and obesity

 

From the beginning, STOP has brought together a broad alliance of individuals and organizations to form a far-reaching system of researchers, clinicians, policymakers, advocates, and professionals. From the 2012 GWU Roundtable on prescription drugs, to our upcoming meeting with stakeholders to discuss patient risk, we will strive to continue our role in facilitating open dialogues between diverse groups of stakeholders.

 

4. Define and catalyze an innovative research agenda for the care of patients with overweight and obesity

 

The Alliance will engage in an interdisciplinary research agenda based on the premise that obesity is the product of a complex interplay of biologic, genetic, behavioral, cultural, environmental, social, policy, and economic factors. STOP research will be cross-cutting, examining clinical practices, evidence-based strategies, health services and policy as they relate to obesity, and measurements of quality in obesity care.

 

5. Identify, implement, and evaluate strategies to increase physical activity for patients with obesity

 

STOP will continue to encourage interventions and environments that support physical activity to improve health, independent of weight or weight loss, resulting in a healthier population. The Alliance will lend energetic support to strategies that promote active living and reduce periods of inactivity in order to increase positive health outcomes.

 

6. Reduce stigma to improve health outcomes

 

STOP will continue to cultivate a positive environment by promoting awareness and open discussion among health professionals, opinion leaders, role models, and the public regarding the harmful impact of stigmatizing people with overweight and obesity. The work of STOP and its members will go beyond the role of personal responsibility to promote compassionate, unbiased care.

 

These are lofty goals, but with the support of our members they can be achieved. More importantly, they are absolutely integral to our shared mission to combat obesity. I look forward to your feedback and thoughts on what STOP can accomplish in this New Year.

 

Thanks,



 
Alliance & Member News
Alliance & Member News

The Canadian Obesity Network Hosts 4th Canadian Obesity Summit

 

Join the Canadian Obesity Network (CON-RCO) and the Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons (CABPS) for the 4th Canadian Obesity Summit -- a unique interdisciplinary conference designed to share current understanding of the causes, complications, treatments and prevention approaches for obesity. The Summit is as much a networking event as it is a cutting-edge research conference, and it also features dedicated tracts for health practitioners and inspiring workshops organized by groups working in the obesity space. Late-breaking abstracts will be accepted January 12th-30th, 2015. Early bird deadline March 3rd, 2015.The preliminary program and registration details are available here.

 

The Obesity Society, Obesity Action Coalition, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and the American Society of Bariatric Physicians Sign Joint Statement

 

In a joint statement through the Obesity Care Continuum, five STOP members agreed with the recent European Court of Justice ruling which supports disability protections for obesity. The statement also called for these protections to be enacted in the United States.  Read the Obesity Care Continuum's joint statement here and read more about the European Court of Justice's ruling here.


News Round-Up
News Round-Up

The Washington Post

January 20, 2015

By Roberto A. Ferdman

 

STOP Director, Dr. Bill Dietz, recently published an article regarding the energy and nutrient intake from pizza in Pediatrics. The article has garnered media attention for reporting that pizza is the second leading source of calories in the diets of American children, adding 84 extra calories per day in children who consume pizza and an extra 230 calories per day in adolescents.

 

BU Today

January 15, 2015

By Boston University School of Medicine

 

Supported by STOP member, the American Diabetes Association, researchers out of Boston University recently published a study in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. The study applied new methods to detect binding of fatty acids to CD36 and the resulting effect on internalization of oxidized LDL. The results give new insight into the pathophysiology of obesity and possible drugs that can be designed to target this mechanism more precisely.

TIME

January 24, 2015

By Alice Park

 

The FDA has approved the first new medical device in more than ten years. The pacemaker-like device blocks signals along the vagus nerve to reduce feelings of hunger and promote feelings of satiety. STOP member, the Obesity Action Coalition, released a statement supporting the approval of the device, saying, "There is no 'one-size-fits-all' approach to treating the disease of obesity. We believe strongly that expanded treatment options are essential to individuals affected by obesity, so that along with their healthcare provider, they can make an informed decision on which option, or options, may work best to improve their health."

 

Healthy Employees Drive High-Performing Companies

Virgin Pulse

January 29, 2014

 

Virgin Pulse's new e-Book helps show employers how they can support employee health habits and how employee health is critical for business success. Download the book here.

 

GW Today

January 26, 2015

By Lauren Ingeno

 

The Milken Institute School of Public Health hosted an event to discuss workplace wellness and its effect on obesity. The event was the first in a quarterly speaker series held in partnership with ICF International. Experts, including STOP member LuAnn Heinen with the National Business Group on Health, discussed how culture changes can lead to weight loss and return on investments.

 

Kaiser Health News

January 6, 2015

By Michelle Andrews

 

New estimates from Dr. Steve Miller, the chief medical officer at Express Scripts, reveal that one third of insurances do not cover anti-obesity drugs at all, with another third placing restrictions on the obesity drugs they do cover. The Medicare prescription drug program specifically excludes coverage of obesity medications. Susan Pisano, the spokesperson for America's Health Insurance Plans, says this variability is due to "issues of evidence of effectiveness and evidence of safety." Despite the safety and minimal side effects of many obesity drugs on the market, many patients with obesity are unable to afford the non-covered medications they have been prescribed.

 

New Guidelines Recommend Strategies for Pharmacological Management of ObesityHealth Central

January 20, 2015

By Kristina Brooks

 

The Endocrine Society released clinical practice guidelines to aid in the management of obesity through prescription medication. This is the first guidelines that specifically names medications, as well as dosage recommendations. Dr. Louis Aronne sees these new guidelines as "part of a shift towards managing obesity more aggressively as a disease rather than waiting to treat its complications."

 

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