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Overcoming Obesity 2014 CME Recording
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Bariatric Physicians
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Aurora, CO 80014
303.770.2526 | asbp.org
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Laurie Traetow, CAE, CPA
Executive Director
laurie@asbp.org
Beth Amelon
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Carly Crosby
Meeting Planner & Executive Coordinator
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Marcie Gonzales
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Obesity Medicine e-Weekly
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Advocacy
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Dr. Lazarus attending the AMA interim meeting
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AMA advocates for payment to physicians for treating obesity
This special advocacy report is brought to you by Ethan Lazarus, MD, and Carolynn Francavilla, MD
Dr. Ethan Lazarus, delegate, and Dr. Carolynn Francavilla, alternate delegate, attended the American Medical Association's interim meeting in Dallas from Nov. 7-11. Having two ASBP representatives in attendance was critical to improving ASBP's influence at the AMA. The interim meeting is primarily for advocacy, and there were many resolutions debated that will impact physicians treating individuals affected by obesity.
The most relevant debate for ASBP members
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Ethan Lazarus, MD
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regarded a resolution introduced by the American Academy of Pediatrics asking for payment to primary care physicians for the treatment of children with overweight and obesity. At the reference committee, Dr. Lazarus testified in support but requested that all physicians should be paid for treating obesity (not just primary care) and that physicians should be paid for treatment regardless of the patient's age. Multiple other organizations subsequently supported this, and in debate at the reference committee, we are thrilled to announce that the AMA adjusted the previous resolution to read "Our AMA . . . will work with national specialty and state medical societies to advocate for patient access to and physician payment for the full continuum of evidence-based obesity treatment modalities."
In other words, AMA now recognizes obesity as a
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Carolynn Francavilla, MD
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disease, as well as advocates that patients should have access to evidence-based care and that any physician who treats obesity should be paid for providing treatment. It is clearly the sentiment of the AMA that physicians step up in the battle to prevent and better treat obesity.
What a victory this represents for physicians who treat individuals affected by obesity. Your AMA delegation hopes that this will encourage physicians to learn how to treat obesity and encourage patients affected by obesity to seek care from their physician. Dr. Lazarus and Dr. Francavilla are actively working with multiple other House of Delegates (HOD) members and hope to expand ASBP's influence in the AMA and in organized medicine. Look forward to an update following the AMA annual meeting in June.
Full text of action taken by the HOD:
RESOLVED, that our AMA modify Policy D-440.954, Addressing Obesity, by addition to read as follows:
1. Our AMA will: (A) assume a leadership role in collaborating with other interested organizations, including national medical specialty societies, the American Public Health Association, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, and the AMA Alliance, to discuss ways to finance a comprehensive national program for the study, prevention, and treatment of obesity, as well as public health and medical programs that serve vulnerable populations; (B) encourage state medical societies to collaborate with interested state and local organizations to discuss ways to finance a comprehensive program for the study, prevention, and treatment of obesity, as well as public health and medical programs that serve vulnerable populations; and (C) continue to monitor and support state and national policies and regulations that encourage healthy lifestyles and promote obesity prevention. 2. Our AMA, consistent with H-440.842, Recognition of Obesity as a Disease, will work with national specialty and state medical societies to advocate for patient access to and physician payment for the full continuum of evidence-based obesity treatment modalities (such as behavioral, pharmaceutical, psychosocial, nutritional, and surgical interventions). (BOT Rep. 11, I-06; Reaffirmation A-13; Appended: Sub. Res. 111, A-14)
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News
 ASBP now offers AOA Category 1-A CME creditBased on the Nov. 8 decision by the Council on Continuing Medical Education, ASBP is now accredited to offer American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Category 1-A continuing medical education (CME) credit at live conferences. We invite ASBP members holding a DO degree to take advantage of our new accreditation and join us in Denver for Obesity Medicine 2015!  Why weight? A guide to discussing obesity and health with your patients The Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance recently unveiled a tool to help prepare health care professionals for discussing weight and health with adult patients. The tool guides users through potential situations they may face with patients and suggests ways to start the conversation about weight and health. The Why Weight? Guide is available for download online at www.WhyWeightGuide.com.  Obesity may soon become leading preventable cause of cancer The American Society of Clinical Oncologists recently announced the heightened role of obesity in cancer deaths. Cancer deaths associated with obesity are as many as one in five--the same amount as cancer deaths associated with smoking tobacco. Within two years, obesity is predicted to become the leading preventable cause of cancer. Click here to learn more.
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Resources
 The Obesity Treatment Foundation (OTF) helps keep you up to date on current obesity research! Each week, OTF publishes a brief overview of three recent studies so you can be in the know, even during your busiest days. Click the titles below to view the full articles, and please consider supporting OTF so we can continue to provide you with updates on the latest research.
Belavy, D. L., et al. International Journal of Obesity, 2014.
There are regional changes in fat-mass distribution in response to increased physical activity and caloric restriction, but less is known about inactivity's effect on fat mass. A study was conducted to evaluate regional changes in fat mass during strict inactivity using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to separate visceral adipose tissue from fat mass in the remainder of the trunk. The study found that 60 days of bed rest and total inactivity led to a significant increase in visceral adipose tissue, whereas bed rest with resistance exercise plus whole-body vibration or resistance exercise only did not significantly affect visceral fat mass. These findings suggest that inactivity leads to a preferential increase in visceral adipose tissue.
Barberger-Gateu, P. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2014.
Research suggests that there is a protective effect of various nutrients against cognitive decline and risk of dementia. These nutrients include long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins C and E, carotenoids, polyphenols, and B vitamins, to name a few. This review article discusses some of the conflicting data that exist and encourages more evidence-based research on the link between nutrition and cognitive decline in the older population.
Studies probe links between childhood asthma and obesity
Almost one in 11 children in the U.S. struggles with asthma, and it is the number one reason that children miss school. New studies have provided information on the link between children's asthma and obesity. Asthma is the chronic inflammation of the lungs and airways, and although the mechanisms that link obesity and asthma are not totally understood, studies point to a common role for inflammation, with obesity-related hormones exerting pro-inflammatory effects that lead to airway hyper-reactivity. This perspectives article discusses the link between obesity and the airways in children.
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Education
 Early registration for Obesity Medicine 2015 in Denver is now open
Join us in Denver for Obesity Medicine 2015: Recognizing Obesity as a Disease, which includes the all-new Special Interest Sessions as well as the popular feature of each spring conference, the Spring Obesity Summit, with completely new content for 2015. Save the date and plan to join nearly 500 obesity medicine physicians and other health care providers furthering their knowledge about the latest discussions taking place in the exciting field of obesity medicine.
When: April 8-12, 2015
Where: Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center
- Full Conference
30 CME | April 8-12 | Register online for the full conference
Includes both the Special Interest Sessions and the Spring Obesity Summit. - Special Interest Sessions
12.5 CME | April 8-9 | Register online for this course
Build your own schedule and attend the lectures that most interest you. Choose among the lectures offered concurrently during the Obesity Medicine Essentials course and the Nutrition and Metabolism Symposium. Obesity Medicine Essentials provides practical and how-to information about the medical care of patients affected by obesity. The Nutrition and Metabolism Symposium focuses on evidence-based research related to nutrition and diet. - Spring Obesity Summit
17.5 CME | April 10-12 | Register online for this course
Enhance your knowledge about the latest scientific research and trends related to the evaluation and treatment of patients affected by obesity.
Want more? Save the date for Overcoming Obesity 2015: Diagnose. Personalize. Treat. in Washington, D.C., from Sept. 30-Oct. 4, 2015.
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