Obesity Management: What Physicians Need to Know When Prescribing Anti-obesity Medication

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According to the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM), the single most prevalent chronic disease in the United States is obesity. However, many healthcare providers, specifically physicians, are not properly trained to help patients with obesity management. More than 40% of adults nationwide are obese, and childhood obesity rates continue to rise, as well as the rates of diseases associated with obesity.

Once previously accepted as the result of an individual’s poor lifestyle choices, obesity is now largely considered a chronic metabolic disease. There are several aspects of weight management, obesity, and weight loss treatment that healthcare providers must understand if they are to treat patients with anti-obesity medications successfully.

What to Know About Obesity Management

Physicians must address numerous issues of people with obesity, including depression, eating disorders, low self-esteem, medical factors, and lifestyle habits, all of which impact a person’s motivation and ability to manage weight successfully.

Because of the prevalence of chronic obesity in the United States, many physicians are committed to providing evidence-based treatments with more than just lifestyle modification recommendations; they are also using comprehensive approaches that include various obesity medications as part of disease control. As the use and advancement of these medications increase, so too does the critical information physicians must know about them.

The health implications of obesity

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and globally, and a significant proportion of the population is affected. Numerous health complications are associated with obesity, including mental health disorders, heart disease, certain cancers, mobility issues, diabetes, fatty liver disease, hypertension, and others.

Because physicians encounter patients who face these obesity-related issues regularly, they must be knowledgeable about obesity medicine and the tools needed to effectively treat these associated conditions so patients can reach a healthy weight.

It’s widely accepted that multiple factors contribute to obesity, including environment, metabolism, genetics, and behavior. Therefore, healthcare providers must understand the risk factors and underlying causes of this chronic disease to be capable of providing comprehensive care.

In addition, several physiological changes are associated with obesity and the medications used during treatment that prescribing physicians must be familiar with. This understanding enables providers to guide patients to prevent obesity-related complications, manage current issues, and address coexisting conditions.

The importance of patient-centered care in obesity treatment

Individualized care tailored to meet each patient’s unique needs is an essential component of comprehensive obesity-related healthcare. This includes the obesity medications used during the treatment and management of the disease.

Obesity medicine encompasses an array of treatment modalities that reach beyond simply “eating less and moving more,” and are a safer first line of treatment compared to bariatric surgery. Anti-obesity medications should be used as part of a holistic approach to treatment that considers a patient’s medical history, body mass index, physical activity level, lifestyle, mental well-being, and socioeconomic context. Physicians need to provide customized treatment plans as opposed to generalized one-size-fits-all therapies.

While obesity is a risk factor for several associated chronic diseases, it’s important to remember that it is a modifiable one. By effectively addressing obesity, healthcare providers can also promote good health and disease prevention.

Guiding patients to good health and weight loss by offering information on and assistance with weight management, healthy lifestyle habits, and preventive strategies empowers individuals to reduce their disease burden, make positive changes, and improve their overall health and well-being.

Obesity Management: Understanding Anti-obesity Medications as Part of a Holistic Treatment Approach

Effectively managing obesity requires a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, and many professionals must be involved. Psychologists, bariatric surgeons, dietitians, and exercise physiologists can all offer invaluable insight, guidance, and treatment as part of a holistic treatment approach.

Healthcare providers that comprehend obesity medicine and the part it plays should collaborate with other providers to facilitate coordinated, integrated care, improving patient outcomes and successfully managing obesity over the long term.

Because obesity is a complex disease, it requires a multi-pronged approach that includes obesity medicine. By the same token, focusing solely on drug delivery would miss the mark. Several challenges can halt progressive treatment and make it difficult for patients to acquire the right medications.

These challenges include health factors, financial concerns, insurance issues, and policy roadblocks. However, by understanding obesity medicine and those challenges, healthcare providers can situate themselves to be able to provide effective holistic care to their patients.

Physicians must understand that obesity is a serious medical condition; it cannot be addressed in the same way for all patients. Deploying a personalized approach to care, building a supportive care delivery system, offering affordable solutions, and communicating with stakeholders are crucial to patient treatment plans.

Anti-Obesity Medications Course

The field of obesity medicine is growing. Physicians must continue to educate themselves on the latest obesity treatment options to help patients lose weight and maintain a healthy body mass index. If you are a physician looking to better understand the role of anti-obesity medications in obesity treatment plans, then the Anti-obesity Medications Course by The Pass Machine is for you. This course is taught by a physician certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine and is worth 4 CME credits through the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. Register at https://www.thepassmachine.com/anti-obesity-medications-course/ to start helping your patients treat their obesity and obesity-related diseases.