Overcoming Obesity 2015 Offers Comprehensive Education About All Areas of Obesity Medicine for up to 30 Hours of CME

This column is dedicated to providing information on the medical management of obesity, which includes diet, exercise, behavioral change, and medication.

Craig Primack, MD, FACP, FAAP, Medical Bariatrician/Certified Medical Obesity Specialist/Co-Medical Director, Scottsdale Weight Loss Center PLLC, Scottsdale, Arizona

Wendy Scinta, MD, MS, FAAFP, Medical Director, Medical Weight Loss of NY, BOUNCE Program for Childhood Obesity, Fayetteville, New York; Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York

This month: Overcoming Obesity 2015 Offers Comprehensive Education About All Areas of Obesity Medicine for up to 30 Hours of CME

by Rachel Nevers

Rachel Nevers is Communication Coordinator for the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, Denver, Colorado

Bariatric Times. 2015;12(9):9.

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The annual fall conference of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) takes place September 30 to October 4, 2015, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. The conference, titled “Overcoming Obesity 2015,” includes the Review Course for the ABOM Exam, Research Basics Workshop, and Fall Obesity Summit, and offers up to 30 hours of educational content for all healthcare providers interested in learning about the numerous clinical approaches to obesity treatment.
The content planned for this year’s conference will help healthcare providers gain an in-depth understanding of the different obesity treatment approaches and will give providers a sense of preparedness as they encounter different cases in practice. Certain themes resonate among the lectures offered at Overcoming Obesity 2015:

Exam Review
Fall is the opportune season to begin studying and reviewing for the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) certification exam, which takes place in December 2015. The Obesity Medicine Certification Review Course for the ABOM Exam (13 CME, Sept. 30–Oct. 1, 2015), taught entirely by Diplomates of ABOM, addresses the topics on which physicians may be tested. In addition to providing a thorough review of the core exam content, this course also offers attendees an invaluable opportunity to connect with others in the field who have already passed the exam or are planning to take it this year.

Clinical Research
A portion of the conference will focus on how to conduct clinical research and gather data about what methods work best in practice. Providers who want to learn the basics of conducting research, including designing a study question, analyzing data, and publishing their results, should attend the Research Basics Workshop (4.25 CME, Oct. 1, 2015). During this interactive workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to discuss their research ideas with experts and peers.

Genetic and Metabolic Influences on Obesity
Obesity is a chronic disease without a common cause. Obesity occurs for a variety of reasons, and during the Fall Obesity Summit (17 CME, Oct. 2–4, 2015), heathcare providers will gain a better understanding of the different genetic, metabolic, and ethnic factors that contribute to obesity. Specific lectures include the following:
•    Understanding the Genetics of Ethnic Differences in Obesity-related Traits—José R. Fernández, PhD
•    Pathophysiologic/Metabolic Differences among Various Ethnicities—Denia Tapscott, MD
•    Treating African-Americans in Obesity Medicine—Denia Tapscott, MD
•    When Hooves Might Be Zebras: Rare Conditions That Come into an Obesity Clinic—Sarah Hallberg, DO, MS
•    Molecular Nutrition: The Edible Fabric of Health and Disease—Jeffrey I. Mechanick, MD, FACP, FACN, FACE, ECNU

Pediatric Obesity
During breakout sessions at the Fall Obesity Summit, attendees may choose to learn more about obesity in one special population: children. Providers interested in child and adolescent obesity should plan to attend one or more of these pediatric-focused lectures:
•    The “How-tos” of Pediatrics in Obesity Medicine—Marisa Censani, MD, and Suzanne E. Cuda, MD, FAAP
•    Genetic Influences on Pediatric Obesity in a Diverse Population—José R. Fernández, PhD
•    An Integrative, Family-based Approach to Childhood Obesity—David S. Ludwig, MD, PhD

Weight-Loss Maintenance
The role of the obesity medicine clinician is to provide care to patients to help treat, reduce, and prevent occurrences of obesity, and these lectures at the Fall Obesity Summit will educate providers about helping patients maintain long-term health after reaching their weight-loss and health goals:
•    The “How-tos” of Pharmacotherapy in Obesity Medicine—W. Allen Rader, MD, FASBP
•    How Anti-obesity Medications Help with Weight-loss Maintenance—Domenica Rubino, MD
•    How Distribution of Sedentary Time with NEAT Can Help with Weight-loss Maintenance—Barbara J. Nicklas, PhD
•    Innovative Research to Improve Maintenance of Weight Loss—Paul MacLean, PhD

Community
The obesity medicine community, while growing, is still a close network of clinicians with a passion for helping patients affected by obesity. Overcoming Obesity 2015 is an excellent educational opportunity for all healthcare providers who treat obesity, but it’s also a place where providers can connect, share, and learn firsthand from the experiences of others in obesity medicine. Mealtimes, breaks, and, after-hours events provide additional opportunities for attendees to meet with colleagues and gain insight outside of the classroom.

Visit http://www.Overcoming-Obesity.org to preview the full conference schedule and register online. First-time attendees can further enhance their experience by bundling conference registration and new membership, at which time they will receive access to the conference mentorship program, member discussion forum, practice resources, and numerous other valuable benefits of membership.

About the American Society of Bariatric Physicians
ASBP is the leading association for physicians and other healthcare providers dedicated to the comprehensive medical treatment of patients affected by obesity and associated conditions. Many ASBP-member physicians also hold certification from the American Board of Obesity Medicine. Effective October 2, 2015, ASBP will change its name to Obesity Medicine Association. Learn more at http://www.asbp.org.

Acknowledgment
ASBP thanks Bariatric Times for being the exclusive media sponsor of Overcoming Obesity 2015.

FUNDING: No funding was provided for this article.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES: Ms. Nevers reports no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this article.

Tags: obesity

Category: Medical Methods in Obesity Treatment, Past Articles