Obesity

Physicians writing on KevinMD about obesity: whether it is a disease, what the GLP-1 drugs from Ozempic to oral Wegovy have changed, what happens when patients stop them, who should take them and who pays, teenagers, compounded versions, bariatric surgery, and the stigma patients describe in the exam room. One maintained record draws on this archive: GLP-1 drugs: what physicians say about Ozempic and its successors, in their own words.

Belviq: What to do when patients ask

Edward Pullen, MD

Medications

July 13, 2012

I am acutely aware of the obesity epidemic in this country. I’ve posted previously about how obesity may have surpassed smoking as the #1 preventable cause of death in the U.S. Still the FDA approval today of Belviq, a sertonergic drug that brings back memories of Fen-Phen, Meridia and Redux (dexfenfluoramine) over concerns with their association with valvular heart disease, pulmonary hypertension and other concerns. The studies to date have been …

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Belviq: What to do when patients ask

Banning large sugar sweetened drinks is a start

Mandy Huggins, MD

Conditions and Diseases

June 15, 2012

In an effort to combat obesity and all the health problems that are associated with it, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg recently announced a plan to ban the sale of sugar-sweetened drinks to 16 ounces or less. It also includes a $200 fine to vendors who violate it. If passed, the ban could take place as early as next March. The ban would not include diet drinks, juice-based drinks, or …

What can local groups do to prevent obesity in children and youth?

Donald Tex Bryant

Conditions and Diseases

June 9, 2012

Obesity is becoming a major health issue in the United States across all age groups. It is well known that obesity is a major contributor in the occurrence of type 2 diabetes and heart conditions. Although physicians and other clinicians are often called upon to become the primary players in the prevention and treatment of chronic conditions, it is not possible for them to do so alone when it comes …

Solving the different behaviors that lead to obesity

Roxanne B. Sukol, MD

Conditions and Diseases

June 4, 2012

All kinds of behaviors can have an effect on your weight, and the solution to each is different.

Maybe portion size is your biggest issue. Maybe it’s hard to get moving, even though you know you need to get some exercise. Maybe you have a sweet tooth that you can’t shake. Maybe you’re completely stressed out, and you never get a decent night’s sleep. Maybe you are a nighttime snacker. Or …

Take on the problem of obesity with dignity and respect

Katherine Ellington

Conditions and Diseases

May 21, 2012

At a time when 2 out of 3 Americans are overweight, a story about black women and fat has gone viral. Perceptions about what women see in the mirror, feel about their bodies and others tell them about beauty is not sufficient for health. The opinion that “many black women are fat because we want to be” may nurture bias that can hinder health care for those who are …

Shift the cultural obsession away from skinny

Solmaz Amirnazmi, MD

Physician

May 6, 2012

If you Google “skinny definition” what will pop up is the following:

Adjective: (of a person or part of their body) Unattractively thin.

The word skinny according to Webster’s is defined as the following:

1. resembling skin: membranous
2a. lacking sufficient flesh: very thin: emaciated
2b. lacking usual or desirable bulk, quantity, qualities or significance.

So how did our culture take this word and use it to represent a goal, or rather set “skinny” as a …

Bearing the burden of the uphill battle against childhood obesity

James Haddad

Conditions and Diseases

April 5, 2012

In recent years, childhood overweight and obesity statistics have received a good deal of media attention, but this has done little to slow their rise. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey shows that nearly 1 in 5 children aged 2-19 are obese. Even more concerning, since 1980 obesity rates have tripled in the 6-11 and 12-19 age groups.

Our …

Is Coca-Cola on American Idol contributing to childhood obesity?

Dominic A. Carone, PhD

Conditions and Diseases

March 24, 2012

I am sitting at home and the popular show American Idol is on. Randy Jackson has a red shirt on, which is color coordinated with a large red Coca-Cola cup. J-Lo is sitting by his side, also with a red Coca-Cola cup. Same with Steven Tyler. When one of the artists takes the stage, there is a large red moving video banner promoting Coca-Cola. It’s called product placement and it …

The problem with obesity counseling

Christina Girgis, MD

Conditions and Diseases

March 15, 2012

Recently I have become interested in the obesity epidemic plaguing our country. I’ve actually been interested in obesity and co-morbid psychiatric illness since residency, but recently my interest has been revived. I read that Medicare is going to be reimbursing health care practitioners for obesity counseling and screening. My initial thought was that this is a positive step in the right direction. But the cynic in …

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The problem with obesity counseling

Fat kills, and 2 other obesity myths

Maggie Mahar

Conditions and Diseases

March 11, 2012

Dr. Nortin Hadler, author of Worried Sick and Stabbed in the Back, is well-known for debunking medical myths. But in his latest book, Rethinking Aging (UNC Press), Hadler, a professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, commits what some might call medical heresy, suggesting that, perhaps, as we approach middle-age, “It’s OK to be Overweight.”

Wait a minute. What is Hadler saying? Everyone knows that obese Americans are driving …

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Fat kills, and 2 other obesity myths

Be aware of your food choices, especially when pregnant

Eric Marcotte, MD

Physician

January 31, 2012

I come back into the exam room, keeping my best poker face, sit down and turn to face her. She’s on the edge of her seat, nervous and barely able to contain herself, maybe not even sure which answer she wants.

“Congratulations,” I say. She lets out her breath and smiles, huge.

“Thanks!”

Once the adrenaline settles down and she can hear me again, …

New classes of devices to diet and exercise

Michele R. Berman, MD

Health Technology

January 29, 2012

For many celebrities, their livelihoods depend on their physical appearance and they rely on armies of personal assistants, schedulers, stylists, trainers and chefs to plan, manage and measure their diet and exercise regimens.

Obviously, most of us don’t have the time or resources to diet and exercise like celebrities do, but new technologies are closing the gap. As an introduction to some of these new platforms and methods, we describe and …

Overweight people have a weight thermostat that is turned up too high

Albert Fuchs, MD

Conditions and Diseases

January 22, 2012

I’ve written many times that losing weight is the second hardest thing I ask my patients to do. (Breaking an addiction like smoking or alcoholism is the hardest.) The frustrating thing is how little we know about how to lose weight successfully. But we are learning more all the time about why losing weight is so difficult.

Much about dieting and weight loss is poorly understood, but let’s first lay out …

Keep your kids off the obesity chart

Jeffrey Gladd, MD

Conditions and Diseases

January 22, 2012

The chart below shows the unheralded rise in pediatric obesity (not overweight, just obesity) over the last 40 years. Outrageous, and downright scary. Kids today are flocking to multi-billion dollar pediatric centers for adult-onset diabetes, heart disease, joint replacement and bariatric surgery. This too little (but definitely not too cheap), too late approach is literally killing us. The generations behind us are not only impacting the expense of healthcare, but …

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Keep your kids off the obesity chart

Obesity is a sign of good health in some cultures

Arya M. Sharma, MD

Conditions and Diseases

January 20, 2012

On the first day of the 1st Caribbean Obesity Forum, I presented various talks on obesity – its economic implications, its assessment and the need for firmly anchoring obesity treatment in primary care.

Interestingly, several family doctors in the audience raised the interesting issue that here on Barbados (as probably on other islands) many patients are actually quite happy with their weights.

One family physician noted in his presentation the case of …

Which celebrity diet will you recommend to patients?

Michele R. Berman, MD

Conditions and Diseases

January 10, 2012

Based on a survey conducted by the largest cosmetic surgery provider in the U.K., 76% of British women feel “depressed” about their appearance in January, related to an average weight gain of 11 pounds during December. Inquiries about cosmetic procedures peak on the third Monday in January, dubbed “Fat Day” in the U.K.

Most people will, of course, try various diet and exercise programs before resorting to cosmetic or Read more…

Which celebrity diet will you recommend to patients?

How many parents are failing their children

Stephen C. Schimpff, MD

Patient

December 18, 2011

Our children (and grandchildren) are the future and we are responsible for their growth and development. As responsible parties, we are clearly failing.

That is my interpretation of the report issued a few days ago by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on seven criteria known to the associate with ideal cardiovascular health as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examinination Survey. They are defined, briefly, as 1) a diet …

Obesity

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