2.75 CME

Managing Weight with Newer Advances in Medicine

Speaker: Dr. Vinaykumar Mukhekar

Diabetes & Obesity Medicine Specialist, Advanced Diabetes & Weight Loss Clinic, Navi Mumbai

Description

Managing Weight with Newer Advances in Medicine is a focused session that explores the latest medical strategies and technologies in the field of weight management. The webinar will cover evidence-based pharmacological treatments, metabolic interventions, and emerging tools like GLP-1 receptor agonists, bariatric advancements, and personalized medicine. Participants will gain insights into patient selection, long-term efficacy, and the integration of lifestyle changes with modern therapies. This session is ideal for healthcare professionals seeking to stay updated on innovative, clinically effective approaches to combat obesity and metabolic disorders.

Summary

**Weight and Body Composition:**
Body Mass Index (BMI) can be a misleading indicator of health, especially in certain populations, like Indians, who may have higher body fat percentages even at lower BMIs. It's crucial to look beyond BMI and consider body fat distribution and associated health risks.
**Obesity as a Disease:**
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes obesity as a disease. This recognition is vital because it encourages healthcare professionals to treat excess weight as a medical condition requiring management, rather than simply a cosmetic concern. Doctors have a responsibility to help patients understand this.
**Detecting and Diagnosing Obesity:**
Assessment should involve anthropometrics, medical history (including birth weight), and a review of organ systems to identify potential end-organ damage. Differentiating between preclinical obesity (excess adiposity without complications) and clinical obesity (excess adiposity with associated health problems) is essential for guiding treatment.
**Goals of Treatment and Weight Bias:**
The primary goal of treatment is to address the underlying causes of adiposity, manage complications associated with clinical obesity, and reduce overall health risks. Healthcare professionals must be mindful of weight bias and avoid body shaming, as negative experiences can deter patients from seeking medical care.
**5A's Framework for Weight Management:**
Implementing the "5As" framework: Ask, Assess, Advise, Agree, and Assist, offers a structured approach to patient interaction. The initial step, asking for permission to discuss weight, respects patient autonomy. Following the framework ensures that appropriate intervention and follow-up strategies are implemented effectively.
**Role of Genetics and Epigenetics:**
Genetics plays a significant role in determining an individual's susceptibility to obesity, contributing 50-70%. Epigenetics, however, the impact of environment on genes, matters as well. Intrauterine environment also plays a part: a mother with obesity during pregnancy increases the child’s risk.
**The Brain, Gut and Weight Management:**
The brain, specifically the hypothalamus, plays a vital role in regulating energy intake and expenditure. Brain reward system for hedonic eating can lead to excess weight. Also, the gut secretes hormones, and plays a role in energy homeostasis.
**Overcoming Barriers to Weight Loss:**
Addressing barriers to healthy eating and lifestyle modification is crucial. These barriers may include emotional eating, economic constraints, and accessibility to unhealthy food sources. Creating support systems and fostering personal motivation are essential for promoting sustainable weight loss.
**Treatment Options:**
Lifestyle intervention (nutrition and physical activity) forms the foundation of weight management. Behavioral interventions, psychological support, medications, and surgery are additional options that can be tailored to individual needs and preferences.
**Medications and Bariatric Surgery:**
Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have revolutionized obesity management, offering significant weight loss benefits. Bariatric surgery remains an option for individuals with severe obesity or obesity-related comorbidities, although its role may be limited as newer medications become available.