HEALTH EMERGENCY DESPITE ADVANCES IN TREATMENTS FOR OBESITY

Alloutcoach

Patients with obesity are at the forefront of latest developments in medicine once again, with new options but many new questions still to be solved, including a public health emergency and shortage despite the latest advances. In this latest interview Angela Fitch MD, FACP, FOMA, Dipl. ABOM critically reviews the advances, public health emergency, and problems with patient access to obesity treatments with an important call to action to the entire healthcare community. She offers a scientific overview of latest obesity treatments, incredibly practical solutions as well as valuable tips for treatments of obesity you do not want to miss!

Angela Fitch, MD, FACP, FOMA is a leader in the field of obesity medicine, immediate past president of the Obesity Medicine Association, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard University, and former co-director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Weight Center. She is a dedicated clinician, as well as an activist for obesity medicine, board member of the Obesity Action Coalition, and a founding member of the Massachusetts Coalition for Action on Obesity. 0:00 Episode Highlights - Public Health Emergency: only 5-10% of 140 million patients w/ access to obesity care

1:36 Episode + Guest Introduction

3:31 Inspiration behind Dr. Angela Fitch's activism + specialization in Obesity

3:56 Background in engineering, primary care with GLP1 agonists

5:16 Obesity is a heterogeneous chronic disease

7:26 How far we have advanced in obesity treatments from phentermine and topiramate to semaglutide (Wegovy)or tirzepatide (Zepbound) and their relative probability in losing 20% bodyweight

8:49 Surgery vs newer GLP1 and other obesity treatments and new investigational drug retatrutide

10:03 Triple mechanism of experimental new obesity drug retatrutide

10:16 Comparison of Tirzpatide - double agonist (GLP1 / GIP): Semaglutide - single mechanism (GLP1) agonist, and retatrutide - triple agonist (GLP1, GIP, and glucagon)

11:18 Success Factors in Obesity Treatments

13:01 Why lifestyle and diet are not effective in many patients

13:41 Personal case study of diet and weight loss with associated GERD

14:24 Dr. Fitch's lifestyle tips: 5P's: planned portions, plants + protein, power, pillow, pause

15:48 Our society does not promote healthy nutrition

18:38 Lifestyle effective in only 5% of patients with obesity

19:02 Weight loss and maintenance - two different biologic phenomena

21:00 How to gain a Metabolic Advantage

23:28 Weight loss maintenance post surgery vs medications

25:32 How patients can access drugs despite obesity medicine shortage

26:06 Public Health Emergency - Obesity Medicine is not a Standard health insurance benefit in the U.S.

28:33 140 million Americans qualify for treatment, but only 5-10% receive it

29:26 Why we are awaiting new drug approvals - why patients are turning to non-FDA approved options

31:00 Reality - alternative ways patients are accessing obesity treatments

31:36 Dr. Fitch's solutions - declare public health emergency, consider vial formulations, coordinate comprehensive care

34:42 Call to Action and Challenge to Healthcare Community

39:23 Dr. Fitch's Current and Future Focus

39:57 Expansion of Dr. Fitch's knownwell patient centered medical home & collaborative practice across new locations in the U.S., 75% telemedicine