Providing Support, Education and Advocacy for People with Obesity

Rebecca Dilks, RD, LDN, research coordinator at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders and member of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team, explains the mission of and Penn's involvement with the Obesity Action Coalition.

Obesity is a disease and its patients require support, education and access to treatment. Several members of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team had the privilege of learning about expanding access to obesity treatment, ending weight bias and preventing obesity through education, awareness and advocacy at the 28th annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the largest bariatric society in the world.

At the annual meeting, we learned about the Obesity Action Coalition's (OAC) website, magazine, newsletter, support groups and other methods being used to increase education about obesity, including a "Walk from Obesity." It was clear to us that the OAC offers a unique opportunity for bariatric health care providers and patients to team up and improve the lives of people affected by obesity. In fact, we were so impressed by the OAC that several members of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program joined the coalition.

A major focus of the OAC is advocating for widespread recognition of obesity as a disease. Patients can be denied access to important medical treatments, including medically managed weight loss or bariatric surgery, because insurance companies do not recognize obesity as a disease. The OAC wants to change this by encouraging patients and providers to contact elected officials, legislators and employers and emphasize the importance of treating obesity as a disease. They also provide guidance for those seeking insurance coverage for bariatric surgery.

With tools provided by the OAC, people affected by obesity can help eliminate the negative stigma and encourage key decision makers to recognize obesity as the medical disease that it is.

We encourage you to consider joining the OAC as part of your bariatric surgery experience with the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

For more information about the Obesity Action Coalition, visit the website.

- Rebecca Dilks, RD, LDN

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Learning and Sharing: Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team heads to Orlando

David Sarwer, PhD, director of clinical services at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders and member of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team, discusses Penn’s involvement with the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and attendance at the upcoming annual meeting.

In mid-June, several members of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program head to Orlando. Instead of going on the rides at Disney World or enjoying the marine shows at Seaworld, we are attending the 28th annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), the largest bariatric society in the world.

The leading bariatric surgeons and health care providers from across the United States share the latest research, treatments, news and industry developments at the ASMBS annual meeting. During the week-long meeting, members of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team attend and present sessions about cutting-edge developments in the field of bariatrics.

Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery has been actively involved with the ASMBS since its inception over 20 years ago. All of Penn’s bariatric surgeons are members of the ASMBS as are various other members of the team, including program coordinators, dietitians and psychologists.

For the past several years, I have had the good fortune of serving as a co-course director of the behavioral health program at the meeting, which spans two days. During the program, I meet and talk with approximately 200 psychologists and mental health professionals who also specialize in the psychosocial care of individuals preparing for weight loss surgery. I am also presenting on various topics in the behavioral health program, including two original research studies under way at Penn Medicine.

Attending the ASMBS annual meeting and serving as co-course director of the behavioral health program are two of the biggest professional highlights of my year. I enjoy sharing Penn Medicine’s research studies and clinical developments with other professionals in the field as well as hearing about studies and advancements in their programs. The ASMBS meeting is a special opportunity for all bariatric health care providers to share and learn from each other so we can all continue to improve our programs and provide the most advanced and highest quality care to our patients.

- David Sarwer, PhD

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