Silvana Pannain
University of Chicago, USA
Title: Obesity pathophysiology and the role of pharmacotherapy in weight loss and long-term weight maintenance
Biography
Biography: Silvana Pannain
Abstract
More than one-third of adults in the United States suffer from obesity. In Europe in 2008, over 50% of adults were overweight and roughly 23% of women and 20% of men were obese. Obesity is intimately linked to many of the most common chronic illnesses like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, heart disease, sleep apnea, stroke, type 2 DM and 13 types of cancer. In recent years, clinical practice guidelines have emphasized the need for a chronic disease approach to obesity management. This is especially important given the high rates of recidivism seen with lifestyle modifications alone. Despite the prevalence and impact of obesity and the challenges of obesity management, many physicians report insufficient training in this area. This interactive lecture will offer participants the opportunity to learn about the physiology of appetite regulation and the process of metabolic adaptation to weight loss. This adaptive process appears to lead to a disproportionate reduction in energy expenditure, increased hunger, and decreased satiety, which may persist long after weight loss ceases. In this way, metabolic adaptation may make maintenance of a reduced body weight more difficult. Additionally, the lecture will discuss current obesity pharmacotherapy and their roles in weight loss and long-term weight maintenance. When used appropriately in combination with lifestyle modification, pharmacotherapy has an important role in the treatment of obesity and improves both short-term and long-term outcomes. The session will cover the efficacy and risks of the drugs currently approved for obesity, with reference to the clinical trials, clinical practice guidelines and considerations for use.