2020-10-29 OMA Agenda - Board of Trustees

INTRODUCTION

The prevalence of obesity, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) ≥3 0 kg/m 2 , has steadily increased in the United States over the past several decades, from approximately 30.5% in 1999-2000 to 39.8% in 2015-2016. 1 In 2018, every state in the U.S. had an obesity prevalence of at least 20%. 2 Significant disparities in obesity prevalence currently exist and are based on race, ethnicity, education, and socioeconomic status. Obesity is a multifactorial, chronic, progressive, and treatable disease of abnormal or excessive adiposity that is associated with a multitude of life-threatening obesity-related complications and comorbidities, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, some cancers, and even premature death. 3-6 The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends that healthcare practitioners offer or refer adults with obesity to “intensive multicomponent behavioral interventions”. 7 Several clinical guidelines and position statements endorsed by medical and surgical societies have echoed the importance of addressing obesity and offering care or referral. 8-15 The current continuum of obesity treatment includes lifestyle/behavioral modification, nutritional counseling, pharmacologic therapy, endoscopic treatment, and bariatric/metabolic surgery. Despite the widespread prevalence of obesity, the adverse effects of the progressive nature of obesity, and the availability of several treatment options, diagnosis and appropriate referral for obesity treatment remain underused, despite indicated, among those who most need it. 16-18 Primary care practitioners have a unique perspective with the ability to build and sustain long-lasting relationships with their patients and are on the front line in addressing the national obesity crisis.

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