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Despite what seems to be widely believed, obesity is not an intractable problem. Yes, it is complex and quite challenging. But our job is to keep working to identify and remove barriers – both systemic and cultural – to the prevention and treatment of this widespread, common disease.

My recent JAMA editorial—"Nutrition Counseling in Clinical Practice: How Clinicians Can Do Better”—discusses why healthcare providers seldom address nutrition with their patients and suggests some small steps we can take.

Few U.S. health professionals are adequately trained in the prevention and management of obesity. Only 1 in 4 physicians feel prepared to effectively counsel patients on healthy eating and physical activity.

The individual challenges, costs, and overall burden of the obesity epidemic continue to require new thinking. I have begun to see young adulthood as a neglected, yet critical, period of study in the development of obesity.

This month, more than 20 leading health organizations  representing a range of health care providers released the first-ever set of interdisciplinary educational competencies for the prevention and treatment of obesity. Collectively, the competencies span virtually all aspects of care and establish a common basis for understanding and working with people with obesity.

This month, the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, & Nutrition (PCFSN) helped to coordinate events nationwide in honor of National Physical Fitness & Sports Month.  Beginning with National PE & Sports Week and ending today with National Senior Health & Fitness Day, the month encourages Americans

In 1985, Dr. Vincent Felitti was frustrated by the 50% dropout rateof patients with severe obesity from his San Diego-based clinic. Upon review, Felitti was shocked to find that most dropouts were losing weight when they left the program. Follow-up interviews with these patients revealed that the majority (55%) had experienced some form of childhood sexual abuse. Many women indicated that they believed their physical size helped to ward off sexual advances from men.

Amid rising costs to employers, interest in evidence-based strategies to promote physical, mental, and financial wellbeing of employees has grown steadily.

In a 2012 report, Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention(APOP), the National Academy of Medicine recommended five areas of focus to address obesity in the United States:

The national security of the United States depends on a fit military. Obesity in military personnel impairs fitness and affects both recruitment and retention.  Along with poor academic performance and criminal behavior, nationwide increases in prevalence of overweight and obesity pose major challenges to U.S.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On February 2nd, the STOP Obesity Alliance hosted a roundtable discussion on Obesity Management and Coverage. The session was moderated by Jeff Levi, Professor of Health Management & Policy, and co-facilitated by Bill Dietz, Director of the STOP Obesity Alliance. The day-long roundtable convened representatives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, patient advocates, researchers, private payers, health care providers, foundations, and others with expertise in obesity prevention and treatment.

By Eric Seaborg

Obesity is such a sensitive issue that many physicians avoid discussing it. Here are some tips on the right (and wrong) ways to broach the subject.

Talking to patients about their weight is a critical task that many physicians find difficult — and even embarrassing. Too many physicians find it so uncomfortable that they avoid it altogether. Or they become so frustrated because “patients don’t listen” that their approach ends up being counter-productive.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - More than 35 leading U.S. healthcare organizations have joined together to form National Obesity Care Week (NOCW), an annual campaign to advance a comprehensive, compassionate and personalized approach to treating obesity as a disease. Scheduled for November 1-7, 2015, the inaugural event calls upon healthcare professionals, patients and policymakers to “Change the Way We Care” for obesity for the benefit of those individuals living with obesity.

The Why Weight? A Guide to Discussing Obesity & Health With Your Patients series of information is available at www.WhyWeightGuide.org.

The Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance released a series of educational videos and website for health care providers as part of STOP’s continued efforts to improve communication with patients affected by obesity. The information is based on STOP’s Why Weight? A Guide to Discussing Obesity & Health With Your Patients, a unique tool designed to help providers build a safe and trusting environment with patients to facilitate open, productive conversations about weight.

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