35 Medical Societies Gather For Second Annual National Obesity Summit

GAINESVILLE, Fla., Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Representatives from 35 major health and medical organizations including, the American Diabetes Association (ADA), American Medical Association (AMA), American Heart Association (AHA), American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) convened for a second annual summit in Chicago to identify opportunities for collaboration in treating obesity. "The National Obesity Summit on the Provision of Care for the Obese Patient" was hosted by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

"We represent many different specialties, backgrounds and perspectives, but we're all really treating the same disease," said John M. Morton, MD, MPH, ASMBS President, who served as moderator for the Summit, which was held in September. "That's why there is intense and growing interest in how we can work together to better help our patients with obesity and related diseases. Obesity is the medical equivalent of economic inflation - obesity increases costs and decreases the effectiveness of medical interventions. We are paying for obesity already. Let's coordinate and provide care the right way."  

Specialists in obesity medicine, bariatric surgery, orthopaedics, diabetes, heart disease, reproductive medicine, sleep medicine, anesthesiology, nutrition, behavioral health, dentistry and oncology discussed prevention and treatment strategies for obesity, patient access to treatment, care coordination and how to further engage patients themselves in the treatment of obesity. Representatives from the insurance industry also participated.

"Treating obesity is central to the management of type 2 diabetes," said William Herman, MD, MPH, who represented the American Diabetes Association. "Medical care is so siloed. We need to move from a piecemeal approach to one that is more comprehensive."        

Recently the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association issued a joint scientific statement on cardiovascular disease in adults with type 2 diabetes, which for the first time includes discussion and recommendations on bariatric and metabolic surgery, focuses on blood pressure and blood glucose control, cholesterol management, aspirin therapy, and weight management through lifestyle, pharmacological and surgical approaches.

Another group that is becoming increasingly focused on obesity treatment is the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the world's leading professional organization representing physicians who care for people with cancer. Last October, ASCO called for increased education, research and advocacy "to reduce the toll of obesity, both as a leading cause of cancer and complication in the care of cancer patients." 

Jennifer Ligibel, MD, who leads the ASCO Energy Balance Working Group, presented data at the Summit that illustrated a strong connection between obesity and cancer, a connection she says is not well recognized, especially in the general population.

"Over the next 20 years, obesity is likely to be the most preventable cause of cancer," Dr. Ligibel said. Dr. Ligibel told the group she envisions potential collaborations in research, education and policy activities.

Collaboration was the key word as the group discussed how they could work together to improve patient care through a multidisciplinary, comprehensive approach to obesity.

"The AASM recognizes that healthy sleep helps prevent obesity, and that helping our patients with obesity lose weight is an integral part of sleep apnea treatment. This conference is a great step towards whole person healthcare," said Timothy I. Morgenthaler, MD, Mayo Clinic Center for Sleep Medicine and past president, American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

"We are thankful to be included in the Summit. The dental office can play an important role in assessing for and monitoring chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension, which are significantly linked to obesity," said Lindsey Robinson, DDS, who represented the American Dental Association. "Dental care professionals can be an important part of the multi-disciplinary care team to manage patients with chronic diseases and reduce obesity prevalence in society."

Many said the AMA's classification of obesity as a disease brings a new critical focus and sense of urgency regarding obesity prevention and treatment to the general public, healthcare professionals, payers and policymakers.

"It's important we work together with physicians at all levels," said Mary Anne McCaffree, MD, a member of the AMA Board of Trustees, who said the AMA will focus on prediabetes detection and treatment, as well as detecting hypertension at its early states, as part of a strategic initiative. "We do none of this alone, but in a collaborative effort."

Stacy Brethauer, MD and Shanu Kothari, MD from the ASMBS served as co-chairs of the summit. Other ASMBS representatives in attendance included Raul Rosenthal, MD, Ninh Nguyen, MD, Alfons Pomp, MD Chris Bauer, MSN, RN, CBN and Karen Flanders, MSN, ARNP, CBN.

Planned activities from the Summit include the development of joint guidelines and symposia, a Healthy Hospital Initiative, an obesity treatment app, an educational curriculum, and collaboration on a legislative agenda, among other initiatives.

National Obesity Summit on the Provision of Care for the Obese Patient Participating Organizations

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND)                                                    
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)        
American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)                        
American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)                                 
American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD)                                
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologist (AACE)                            
American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)                       
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG)                                  
American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM)
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)          
American College of Surgeons (ACS)           
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
American Dental Association (ADA)  
American Diabetes Association (ADA)                      
American Heart Association (AHA)    
American Medical Association (AMA)                        
American Psychological Association (APA)  
American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA)              
American Society for Bariatric Physicians (ASBP)   
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE)  
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS)
American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)          
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)           
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)                               
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)                                 
Endocrine Society                              
International Society for the Perioperative Care of the Obese Patient (ISPCOP)
National Lipid Association (NLA)        
Obesity Action Coalition (OAC)                                 
Strategies to Overcome & Prevent Obesity Alliance (STOP)
The Obesity Society (TOS)   
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Optum
Pacific Business Group on Health
Willis-Towers Watson

About Obesity            

Studies have shown individuals with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 have a 50 to 100 percent increased risk of premature death compared to healthy weight individuals, as well as an increased risk of developing more than 30 obesity-related diseases and conditions including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.

About the ASMBS

The ASMBS is the largest organization for bariatric surgeons in the nation. It is a non-profit organization that works to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery and is committed to educating medical professionals and the lay public about bariatric surgery as an option for the treatment of morbid obesity, as well as the associated risks and benefits. It encourages its members to investigate and discover new advances in obesity, while maintaining a steady exchange of experiences and ideas that may lead to improved outcomes for morbidly obese patients. For more information, visit www.asmbs.org.

SOURCE American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery