2020-10-29 OMA Agenda - Board of Trustees

chronic disease with a pathophysiologic origin, and not a reflection on personal choice or character. Several professional societies support the use of people-first language, including the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, The Obesity Society, the Obesity Medicine Association, the Obesity Action Coalition, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the World Obesity Federation, the College of Contemporary Health, the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders, the European Association for the Study of Obesity, and the European Coalition for People Living with Obesity. 41 Treatment for obesity begins in the primary care setting with a conversation between the patient and their healthcare practitioner. Using blameless conversation tools, compassion, and people-first language are important in discussing treatment options and next steps in obesity care. 29 In the media, stigmatizing images portraying obesity are often used. Public campaigns and media should conform to the guidelines established by the Obesity Medicine Association to avoid further promotion of the stigma surrounding obesity. 46 5. Toolkits and treatment algorithms are needed for primary care providers based on collaboration with subspecialties and obesity care experts. The primary care setting is often the starting point for obesity treatment. To provide adequate care for patients with obesity, easily accessible toolkits and treatment algorithms are needed. While there are multiple clinical guidelines (Table 1) and resources (Table 2), 7- 15,35,36,46,47 a comprehensive multispecialty collaboration among experts from each phase of the obesity care continuum would be of benefit to primary care providers. These resources must also be effectively disseminated through professional medical societies and associations to their

11