 OMA president meets with U.S. Surgeon General
Last Thursday in Washington, D.C., our work to promote evidence-based detection, prevention, and treatment for the disease of obesity took an important step forward. Leaders from the Obesity Care Continuum (OCC) and our colleagues who focus on diabetes met with U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy. Dr. Murthy has previously identified obesity as one of his major targets for improved health of the country. Our OMA president, Deborah Bade Horn, DO -- together with the presidents from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), The Obesity Society (TOS), and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND); specialists in diabetes; and our industry colleagues from Novo Nordisk -- shared a message of hope and the need for obesity treatment and prevention with the Surgeon General. Dr. Murthy expressed that one of the areas from our discussion he was most interested in pursuing more was integrated care for the treatment of obesity and coverage within the essential health benefits programs. It is very exciting to see the wheels in Washington, D.C., turning. Our message on the Hill and with influential stakeholders like Dr. Murthy is making a difference. Our advocacy committee will continue working with U.S. government officials to make progress. Washington, D.C., is a complex place, and the more people involved, the more ground we can cover. |
National Obesity Care Week: Nov. 1-7
Today, the 35 collaborating organizations behind the first-ever National Obesity Care Week sent a press release announcing the campaign to the public. National Obesity Care Week is a movement to ensure anyone affected by obesity receives respectful and comprehensive care. OMA supports Obesity Care Week, and you can support it too by spreading 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. 4. Follow Obesity Care Week on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. |
 New joint position statement: Dietary supplements sold as medicinal or curative for obesity
Yesterday, The Obesity Society (TOS) sent a press release announcing the publication of a joint position statement by TOS, OMA, the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). The overview of the position reads, "All publicly available dietary supplements sold or advertised for weight loss should have randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled studies of sufficient duration to support both safety and claimed efficacy. These randomized, controlled trials should be of appropriate magnitude and rigor. If a dietary supplement is marketed as curative or medicinal it should be categorized as a drug and subject to enforcement by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)." Read the press release or the full position statement. |
 Join OAC during ObesityWeek for YWMLocal - Los Angeles 2015
In conjunction with ObesityWeek, the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) is offering the greater Los Angeles community the opportunity to learn at YWMLocal - Los Angeles 2015, a free half-day educational event created to educate individuals about their weight and health and about evidence-based weight-management strategies. Attendees will receive valuable educational information on a broad spectrum of topics, including:
- The Whole Scoop: A Realistic Look at Balancing Nutrition Advice in Today's World
- Exercise Essentials: Learning What's Safe and Effective
- Taking Back Your Life by Talking Back to Obesity: How Changing the Conversation Really Can Change Your Motivation
OAC invites you to attend YWMLocal - Los Angeles 2015, to learn information from your peers just as your patients do. OAC also encourages you to share this event with your patients who live in or near the greater Los Angeles area, so they can join with you and take the next step in learning the right information about their weight and health. To learn more and register for YWMLocal - Los Angeles 2015, visit www.YWMLocal.com. |
 My day on Capitol Hill: Special guest column by Dr. Susan Isensee
The advocacy day with the OMA was an exciting educational event. Three of us representing the OMA (Dr. Angela Fitch, Ohio; Dr. Robert Huster, Missouri; and myself), along with our mentor Ted Kyle, met with OMA lobbyist Chris Gallagher at the Omni Hotel prior to heading up to Capitol Hill. We visited six legislative aides in the offices for senators from Ohio, Missouri, and Wisconsin. The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act was presented, and we introduced a "Dear Colleague" letter requesting a Congressional Budget Office score -- a way to attempt to calculate the financial impact of this bill. We requested they consider signing on to this letter with their Senator; one aide agree to do that on the spot! Others were engaged and enthusiastic. It was a privilege to work with such wonderful people and lobby on a national level to increase awareness of the disease of obesity. |
Obesity Treatment Foundation
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 Scholarship fund for physicians in training created in honor of Dr. Hal Seim
The Hal Seim scholarship program was created to honor the work and dedication that Dr. Harold "Hal" Seim contributed to OMA as the CME program director for 24 years. Dr. Seim recognized the need for obesity medicine education for physicians. The Hal Seim scholarship will provide an opportunity for physicians in training (students, residents, or fellows) who have never attended an OMA conference to attend a conference, and it will grow the field of obesity medicine by introducing it to professionals entering the medical field. To donate to the scholarship fund, click the link and select Hal Seim scholarship program from the drop-down menu. |
 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. |
The effect of PPI use on human gut microbiota and weight loss in patients undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
Ward, E. K., et al. Obesity Surgery, 2015.
Patients who take proton pump inhibitors (PPI) for gastro-esophageal reflux disease are more likely to have obesity, which poses the question of whether PPI use is associated with weight gain or impaired weight loss. PPI users have been shown to have an altered gut microbiome composition both before and after gastric bypass, and this microbiome composition is associated with impaired weight loss. A study was conducted to assess the association between PPI use and the gut microbiota just prior to laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and at six months post-LRYGB. PPI users had a higher amount of Firmicutes compared to non-users before and at six months post-LRYGB. There was also a trend toward significantly lower percentages of excess weight loss (49.3 percent versus 61.4 percent, p = 0.067) compared to non-users. These data suggest that PPI use may impair weight loss by modifying gut microbiota. View article
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Chronic exposure to TNFa impairs secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1
Gagnon, J., et al. Endocrinology, 2015.
Some of the mechanisms by which obesity leads to metabolic disorders are becoming better understood. The pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNFa, in obesity has been shown to interfere with insulin signaling and glucose clearance; however, it is not known if it plays a role in the secretion of GLP-1. A study was conducted to test whether TNFa plays a direct role in the impairment of GLP-1 secretion and if blocking TNFa restores both GLP-1 secretion and glucose metabolism. Using a number of cell types and mice with impaired glucose tolerance, researchers were able to show that chronic exposure to TNFa directly impairs GLP-1 secretion. This effect was reversed by anti-TNFa therapy, which also resulted in improved glucose tolerance. Whether anti-TNFa therapeutics can enhance GLP-1 levels in human obesity as a possible novel approach to the treatment of obesity is not known. View article
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A randomized clinical trial of a weight-loss maintenance intervention in a primary care population
Tsai, A. G., et al. Obesity, 2015.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) support intensive behavioral treatment of obesity by reimbursing primary care physicians for monthly in-person visits after an initial weight loss. A study was conducted in a primary care setting to demonstrate the effects of in-person visits compared to mailed materials in reducing 12-month weight regain. Both groups also received portion-controlled meals. The results provide evidence to support CMS regulations for reimbursing in-person visits, as the individuals who received the mailed materials regained 5.3 percent of body weight, while those assigned to in-person visits regained 1.6 percent of body weight. This study supports the idea that patients who have in-person visits with their providers for follow up have a greater likelihood of maintaining a lower body weight. View article
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*These events are hosted by organizations other than OMA. Contact the organization directly for details.
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Answered by Dr. Amy Articolo.
Q: Since you mentioned one of the words you don't like to use is "obese" or "obesity," what do you think about the new name -- Obesity Medicine Association -- and [calling ourselves] obesity medicine specialist[s]?
A: The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) has great resources for physicians and patients alike regarding bias with terminology for those who struggle with weight. Results from questionnaires reveal that patients prefer not be called "obese"; however, the word obesity is acceptable when used to describe the disease state. We are specialists treating the disease state of obesity. And I really like the name, Obesity Medicine Association. It defines who we are!
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Executive Director
Sponsorships and Exhibits Manager
Operations Manager
Education Coordinator
Communication Manager
Executive Director of the Obesity Treatment Foundation
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101 University Blvd., Suite 330
Denver, CO 80206
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