The Clinical Advances in Treating Obesity as a Chronic Disease: Novel Insights and Strategies curriculum provides education on the latest clinical trial results and therapeutic strategies for obesity management. Each activity also includes a polished presentation that educators can download for use in their courses. 

Obesity is a serious global epidemic and increasing threat to healthcare systems, with huge financial implications. At least 1.1 billion adults are overweight, including 312 million with obesity. Compared with patients of normal weight, risk of death increases by 20%-40% in overweight individuals and by two-to threefold in individuals with obesity.  These educational activities are intended primarily for an international audience of non-US primary care physicians, diabetologists, endocrinologists, and cardiologists but could be adapted for other professions.

CURRICULUM

Enduring Obesity — Long-Term Strategies for a Chronic Disease
New ways to treat and understand obesity | by John Wilding, DM, FRCP; Werd al-Najim, PhD; Kathy James, DNSc, APRN, FAAN; Luc Van Gaal, MD, PhD

In Dialogue With the Patient With Persistent Obesity: Proven Steps to Sustained Weight Loss
Stay updated on the management of patients with persistent obesity | by Arya M. Sharma, MD, DSc (hon), FRCPC

The goal of this activity is to provide education regarding an effective and integrated approach to weight loss, including weight loss intervention with patients and selecting appropriate therapy for weight loss. Upon completion of this activity, participants will:

• have increased knowledge regarding the achievement of enduring weight loss via a collaborative and integrated approach and importance of timely weight loss intervention and engaging with the patient affected by obesity.
• have greater competence related to selecting appropriate evidence-based pharmacotherapy for sustained weight loss.

Embracing Obesity in Collaboration – Why, When, and How to Intervene?
Experts discuss appropriate obesity treatment | by Luc Van Gaal, MD, PhD; Luca Busetto, MD; Rachel Pryke, MBBS, MRCGP, FRCP; Cathy Breen, BSc

The goal of this activity is to improve/maintain physician competency in the management of obesity including unmet patient needs and the application of new treatment paradigms, and to increase awareness of emerging data on new therapeutic options. Upon completion of this activity, participants will:

• have increased knowledge regarding the physiology and complexity of obesity as a chronic disease requiring long-term treatment; enduring weight loss achievable via a collaborative and integrated approach; and concrete health benefits of moderate but sustained weight loss.
• have greater competence related to selecting appropriate evidence-based pharmacotherapy for sustained weight loss.

Are We Ready to Tackle Chronic Obesity in Primary Care?
The role of primary care in obesity management | by Hermann Toplak, MD; Rachel Pryke, MBBS, MRCGP, FRCP

The goal of this activity is to enhance the knowledge of the target audience concerning the role of obesity in the development and exacerbation of a range of cardiometabolic and other disorders; the difficulty of weight loss; the problem of weight regain after weight loss; and the interventional strategies and pharmacotherapies that have shown benefit in weight loss and weight regain prevention. Upon completion of this activity, participants will:

• have increased knowledge regarding the need to tackle the chronic obesity epidemic in primary care and enduring weight loss achievable via a collaborative and integrated approach.
• have greater competence related to initiating timely and coordinated weight loss intervention and engaging with the patient affected by obesity.

Treating Obesity as a Chronic Disease: What Are the Underlying Causes?
Dr Hauner and faculty discuss obesity as a disease | by Hans Hauner, MD; Rachel L. Batterham, MBBS, PhD, FRCP; Hermann Toplak, MD; Jens Juul Holst, MD, DMSc

The goal of this activity is to improve/maintain physician competency in the management of obesity, including unmet patient needs and the application of new treatment paradigms, and to increase awareness of emerging data on new therapeutic options. Upon completion of this activity, participants will:

• have increased knowledge regarding the complex pathophysiologic challenges of achieving weight loss in individuals with excess body weight and obesity as a chronic disease with a range of cardiometabolic and other manifestations.
• have greater competence related to selecting the appropriate therapy for clinically proven and sustained weight loss.

Obesity & Weight Loss: Can Cross-Functional Collaboration & Integrated Care Work in Practice?
Our expert panel discusses a collaborative approach to weight-loss therapy | by Robert Kushner, MD; David B. Sarwer, PhD; Marcio Mancini, MD, PhD; Patrick M. O’Neil, PhD

The goal of this activity is to improve/maintain physician competency in the management of obesity, including unmet patient needs and the application of new treatment paradigms, and to increase awareness of emerging data on new therapeutic options. Upon completion of this activity, participants will:

• have increased knowledge regarding the root causes and complexity of obesity as a chronic disease and barriers to effective weight management/loss initiatives and the need for a collaborative, long-term treatment approach.
• have greater competence related to the selection of effective strategies for achieving sustained weight loss via an integrated, cross-functional approach.

  Sample Presentation: Obesity as a Chronic Disease