Obesity: A Choice or a Disease?

01/08/24 • 36 min

Is obesity a choice or a disease? Join experts in obesity Dr Robert Kushner (Professor of Medicine at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and Director of the Center for Lifestyle Medicine at Northwestern Medicine, in Chicago), Dr Louis Aronne (Professor of Metabolic Research and Director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center, in the Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism at Weill Cornell Medicine, in New York City), and Dr Jamy Ard (Professor of Epidemiology and Prevention at Wake Forest School of Medicine and Co-Director of the Wake Forest Baptist Health Weight Management Center) as they raise awareness about obesity as a chronic, progressive disease with biological and environmental components. The podcast will focus on how obesity is misunderstood and often stigmatized as a choice or a lack of willpower instead of a disease; and where lack of education and bias can lead to underdiagnosis and under management of obesity. The panel will also discuss the weight-related comorbidities, such as cardiometabolic multimorbidities, and will share tips on how to engage your patients with obesity to start thinking about their weight management journey.

This program is intended for clinicians. The information presented is aligned with the views and opinions of the speakers and is sponsored by Novo Nordisk. This podcast is not to be used as medical advice and is intended for educational purposes only.

Faculty Presenters:

Robert Kushner, MD
Professor, Departments of Medicine and Medical Education
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, IL

Jamy Ard, MD
Professor
Wake Forest School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, NC

Louis Aronne, MD, FACP, DABOM
Sanford I. Weill Professor of Metabolic Research
New York, NY

Faculty Presenters:

Robert Kushner, MD
Professor, Departments of Medicine and Medical Education
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, IL

Jamy Ard, MD
Professor
Wake Forest School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, NC

Louis Aronne, MD, FACP, DABOM
Sanford I. Weill Professor of Metabolic Research
New York, NY

Previous Episode

Obesity: A Disease of Abnormal Physiology

What is the pathophysiology of obesity? What roles do appetite hormones in the gut-brain axis play in energy metabolism and eating behavior? Join experts in obesity, Robert Kushner, MD (Professor of Medicine at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and Medical Director of the Center for Lifestyle Medicine at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago), Leigh Perreault, MD (Endocrinologist and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado), and Robert Busch, MD (Endocrinologist and Director of Clinical Research at the Community Endocrine Group, Albany Medical College), as they discuss the pathophysiology of obesity, with a focus on how dysfunctional adipose tissue may lead to metabolic complications, as well as a discussion on the role of the gut-brain axis in regulating appetite and eating behavior.

Faculty Presenters:

Robert Kushner, MD
Professor, Departments of Medicine and Medical Education
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, IL

Robert Busch, MD
Director of Clinical Reserach
Albany Med: Community Endocrine Group
Albany, NY

Leigh Perreault, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
University of Colorado
Aurora, CO

Next Episode

A Story of 2 Diseases: Obesity And CVD

What is the risk of developing cardiovascular disease if you have obesity? Join experts in obesity, Dr Robert Kushner (Professor of Medicine at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and Director of the Center for Lifestyle Medicine at Northwestern Medicine, in Chicago)and Dr Michael Blaha (Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, and Director of Clinical Research, and Director at the Cardiometabolic Clinic at the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease), as they discuss the elevated cardiovascular risk associated with obesity and overweight. What is the relationship between obesity and cardiovascular disease? How can you measure cardiovascular risk? What is the role of inflammation and “sick fat” cells in this process? This panel will also discuss the importance of treating patients with obesity as well as addressing long term CV risk in these patients and share tips on motivating your patients with obesity to think about their health comprehensively.

Faculty Presenters:

Bob Kushner, MD
Professor, Departments of Medicine and Medical Education
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, IL

Michael Blaha, MD, MPH
Professor of Cardiology and Epidemiology, Director of Clinical Research
Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
Baltimore, MD