2020-10-29 OMA Agenda - Board of Trustees

In September 2019, experts in primary care, obesity medicine, and bariatric surgery convened for the 1 st annual Forum on Obesity Care . The following issues related to obesity and obesity treatment were agreed upon by the members of the forum.

1. Obesity is recognized as a national healthcare crisis. The prevalence of obesity continues to increase, affecting over 90 million U.S. adults, and is a national healthcare crisis. Leading causes of mortality in the U.S. include heart disease, cancer, and diabetes; all of which may be associated with, and worsened by, obesity. The economic burden of obesity is significant, and has been estimated to be $147 billion, or 9% of annual medical expenditures. 19 A continued increase in the prevalence of obesity and the associated costs has been forecasted through 2030, with an additional 65 million individuals with obesity and an increase of $48-66 billion in medical costs for obesity and related comorbities. 20 If the obesity rates could be returned to 2010 levels, it would result in an estimated savings of $549.5 billion. 21 Among American adults, 81% believe obesity is a serious health problem facing the nation, and is tied with cancer as the most serious issues. 22 Yet, many patients believe that they should lose weight on their own without medical or surgical treatment for their chronic disease. Increased awareness and recognition of this healthcare crisis among the public, and among healthcare practitioners, is imperative to reverse this costly and lethal epidemic. 2. Obesity is a progressive chronic disease and early intervention is critical. The etiology of obesity is multifactorial and includes a complex pathophysiologic process. 4- 6,23 Both healthcare practitioners and the public must contribute to a widespread understanding that obesity has a complex and multifactorial pathophysiology. Improvements in this recognition

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