District 10 Recap – November 15, 2019

POMA District 10 gathered on Friday, November 15, 2019 for their monthly event at the Blue Bell Inn in Blue Bell, PA. The group enjoyed a lecture How to Talk to Patients About Obesity by Tatyan M. Clarke, MD, FACS, Bariatric Surgeon from Temple.

Notes:

-Obesity:  BMI greater than or equal to 30
-Most states in the US have an obesity rate of greater than 30%
-In the US over 39% of adults and 18% of youths are considered obese
-In Philadelphia 41% of youths (ages 4-17) and 67.9% of adults are obese

Recommendations:

  • Use of smaller plates, clarify what patients are consuming, clarify if they are
  • snacking &/or consuming liquid calories.
  • Words matter:  Instead of using the phrase “obese patient, say “a patient with obesity”
  • Instead of “fat” or “heavy” use “weight” or “BMI”
  • Treatment:  includes Lifestyle:  Dietary modifications, physical activity, behavioral counseling
  • Medication and Surgery are effective in combination of lifestyle modifications. 
  • Bariatric Surgery is only performed for morbid obesity.  They are moderate risk procedures in a high-risk surgical patient group. 

POMA President, Pamela Goldman, DO attended our meeting and updated us on happenings within POMA, in addition to osteopathic medicine within the state and nationally. The next District 10 gathering will be on Friday, January 24, 2020 at the Blue Bell Inn in Blue Bell, PA. We look forward to seeing you then.