On Oct. 2, we revealed our new brand in a video, shown to members and attendees at Overcoming Obesity 2015. Watch the video and learn more about the new OMA. Help us spread OMA pride by sharing the video with your patients and on social media.

The committee enrollment period has been extended until Friday, Oct. 16, for the 2015-2016 committee term. Committees are a great way to get more involved, collaborate on projects that further the association's initiatives, and take the first step toward holding a leadership position. Both new and returning committee members must complete an application to participate on a committee during the coming year. Submit your completed application to membership@obesitymedicine.org by Oct. 16 to be considered; we will notify accepted candidates by Oct. 30.

OMA will participate in the first-ever National Obesity Care Week, a movement to ensure anyone affected by obesity receives respectful and comprehensive care. Now more than ever, health care providers, policymakers, industry professionals, and patients must examine their personal biases against people with obesity and take action to treat obesity as the serious and complex disease it is. Help spread the word about treating obesity seriously: 1. Take the pledge. 2. Join the campaign. 3. Use these resources to help you and your colleagues treat obesity seriously.

Our 2015 member-get-a-member campaign ended last month, and thanks to you, our members, 77 new health care providers joined OMA! Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm for obesity medicine with your friends and colleagues and for telling them about OMA membership and educational opportunities. We offered raffle prizes for members who participated in the campaign; those prizes and winners are listed below:

As a soft-spoken introvert, I initially decided against participating in the Advocacy Day at the 2015 OMA conference. However, I quickly realized that this was an opportunity that would possibly never present itself again. So, although I could not see myself discussing the intricacies of an obesity management bill with my senators, I decided to step out of my comfort zone. After signing up, I appreciated the assigned "homework" to ensure that I understood both the bill and how our Congress works. My fellow participants and I spent the first two hours of our day practicing what we would say to the congressional aides with whom we would meet so that we were fully prepared when we ventured onto the Hill later that morning to meet with our respective senators. Our job that morning was to convince the Senate staffers to convince our Senators to sign off on a letter, which would allow a budget analysis of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2015. Many senators are interested in knowing the cost-benefit analysis before pledging their support of a potential new law, and thus our advocacy was an important part of the process. The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2015 has two major goals. The first is to improve access to obesity treatment by expanding the existing Medicare coverage solely from PCPs to also include other qualified providers, such as board certified obesity specialists, counselors, and dietitians. The second is to allow Medicare Part D coverage of FDA-approved weight-loss medications to patients who qualify for them. Obesity costs our nation almost $2 billion yearly, and every patient we can help with this expanded coverage will serve to reduce that figure. While I was apprehensive to get involved initially, I was very pleased with our Advocacy Day meetings. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed the experience so much, I applied to become a member of the Advocacy Committee.

This year, the Obesity Treatment Foundation (OTF) will support the obesity medicine research of two clinicians in the field. An external scientific review committee reviewed all applicants and selected two OMA members as the winners of the $7,500 grants:

Eduardo Grunvald, MD, Dipl. ABOM
Title: Predictors of Patients with Sub-optimal Weight Loss after Bariatric Surgery

Cherie Lisa Vaz, MD
Title: Non-exercise Activity Thermogenesis and Heart Rate Variability in Patients with Obesity

OTF looks forward to growing the grants program and thanks OMA members for their support in expanding clinical research funding opportunities.

The Obesity Treatment Foundation 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 links below to view the full articles, and consider supporting OTF, so we can continue to provide you with updates.