October 16, 2020 — We understand. Surgery is daunting. Bias against people living with obesity is rampant. Some friends and family will criticize. Some doctors will discourage. Health plans often make it hard. So many people feel reluctance about seeking bariatric surgery. But a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine reminds us. This is not right. […]
October 8, 2020 — We’re learning the hard way that neglecting a health problem doesn’t lead it to “go away.” In fact, it can come back to bite you. But on the other hand, paying attention to a problem can pay big benefits. And so it is with diagnosing obesity and giving it real medical attention. A new study […]
September 30, 2020 — Somehow we find ourselves now in a puzzling situation with bariatric surgery. On one hand, we have Jane Brody, an icon of healthy nutrition for a healthy weight, telling us that bariatric surgery is underutilized. On the other, we’re hearing that demand for bariatric surgery is robust – despite or perhaps because of COVID-19. So […]
September 25, 2020 — Lots of words are swirling about obesity and COVID-19. Some are helpful. Like this new PSA from the Creative Coalition. That’s a nonprofit advocacy group promoting arts and education. The group wants you to know: COVID-19 is a real problem for people living with obesity. But if that’s you, you’re not alone. You can act […]
September 12, 2020 — Obesity has emerged as a significant risk factor for poor outcomes in patients infected with COVID-19. Based on how doctors and others in health care have previously treated patients with obesity or overweight conditions, my guess is that many will respond by declaring: “Well, it’s their own fault for being overweight!” In the spirit of […]
September 10, 2020 — Back in February we complained about “a near complete failure of transparency in drug safety decision making” by FDA. Our complaint had to do with taking lorcaserin (Belviq) off the market. Today, FDA took a step toward a bit more transparency. In the New England Journal of Medicine, senior FDA officials explained their thinking about […]
September 8, 2020 — When you read news feeds about obesity day after day, one thread is unmistakable. It’s a problem. A huge problem. The cost runs into trillions of dollars in the U.S. It’s making whole countries more vulnerable to COVID-19. Stories about this big, bad, terrible problem never end. But solutions are not getting so much play. […]
September 7, 2020 — A new review in JAMA is unequivocal. The choice to have bariatric surgery is something that every patient with severe obesity should be considering: All patients with severe obesity – and especially those with type 2 diabetes – should be engaged in a shared decision-making conversation about the risks and benefits of surgery compared with […]
September 5, 2020 — ECOICO 2020 is now one more milestone in our COVID diary of virtual meetings. It has been a week that quickly became a blur of many new findings and insights from diverse cultures around the world all grappling with the wicked problem of obesity. But one of the most memorable is an analysis of health […]
September 4, 2020 — A powerful new study in the New England Journal of Medicine tell us it’s possible. Health coaches can deliver effective obesity care in mostly Black and underserved populations. In this randomized study, patients achieved and maintained a healthier weight status after two years. But without the intervention of health coaches, the control group did not. […]
