Putting Patients First Integrating Anti-Obesity Medications into Patient-Centered Care

This webinar was presented live on January 18, 2024. The CPE associated with this event will expire on January 18, 2027.

The field of obesity medicine is rapidly changing as the efficacy and availability of anti-obesity medications continues to increase. The advent of pharmacotherapy supports the treatment of obesity as a disease. However, anti-obesity medications can also be misused and misunderstood in a way that further stigmatizes the person living with obesity. We have a unique opportunity and responsibility to establish patient-centered programs that address the complex and long term needs of our patients.

This session will first review the key principles of patient centered obesity care. Then we will apply these principles to both our individual interactions with patients as well as things to consider program wide that impact the patient experience. We will utilize behavioral and coaching techniques that respect autonomy and support shared decision making. We will also review specific nutrition interventions along the continuum of care. We hope to inspire and collaborate with you in this session so we can provide the highest quality obesity care possible. This webinar is a collaboration between the Academy and the Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group.

CPE Level: 2
CPEU: 1.0 (valid until January 18, 2027)

Performance Indicators:

• 8.2.1 Engages in educational activities to maintain knowledge and to obtain new knowledge of diseases and clinical conditions.
• 9.1.3 Identifies and analyzes factors that influence change in behaviors.
• 9.6.2 Applies a variety of counseling theories, psychological methods and strategies that empower clients/patients to make changes.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the principles and benefits of patient centered care as it applies to obesity treatment.
• Apply patient centered communication tools to shared decision making around starting or continuing a medication.
• Identify nutrition interventions to optimize outcomes at each stage of the care continuum— before, during, and long term.

Speaker

Scott Kahan MD, MPH

Dr. Scott Kahan is the Director of the National Center for Weight and Wellness. He is a physician trained in both clinical medicine and public health. He serves on the faculties of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the George Washington University School of Medicine, and the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.

Amanda Lavasseur MS, RD, CSOWM, CHWC, LDN

Amanda received her Bachelor's degree through the University of Rhode Island and her Master's degree from Framingham State University through the Coordinated Program in Dietetics. She is a board certified specialist in Obesity and Weight Management and a Certified Health and Wellbeing Coach. She has worked in medical and surgical weight management since 2014. She currently works as a senior bariatric dietitian at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Mass.