A peer-reviewed, evidence-based journal that promotes clinical development and metabolic insights in total bariatric patient care for the healthcare professional
Issue link: https://bariatrictimes.epubxp.com/i/245728
24 News and Trends Bariatric Times • January 2014 News and Trends JANUARY 2014 MEN DO NOT SEEK OBESITY SURGERY AS SOON AS THEY SHOULD SACRAMENTO, California—Even though obesity affects women and men equally, a UC Davis study shows that women with obesity are four times more likely than men with obesity to seek weight-loss surgery. When they do see a bariatric surgeon, male patients tend to be older, more obese, and sicker than women. "It is important for men to realize that obesity poses a serious threat to their health and lifespans," said Mohamed Ali, senior author of the study and chief of bariatric surgery at UC Davis, Sacramenta, California. "A patient who is 100 pounds or more above his ideal body weight poses a therapeutic dilemma and should be referred to a surgeon." For the study, published in the December 2013 issue of Surgical Endoscopy, Ali et al collected information from 1,368 patients who were evaluated for bariatric surgery at UC Davis between 2002 and 2006. A vast majority of them—nearly 82 percent—were women. Both men and women in the study were likely to be affected by weightrelated conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), elevated cholesterol and fat levels in the blood, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), musculoskeletal peripheral disease, back pain, depression, and metabolic syndrome, a combination of conditions that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. There were some distinctions, however, between men and women in the study. The authors observed the following in the male participants: • Had more weight-related health conditions as well as more serious forms of those conditions (an average of 4.54 conditions and 3.7 serious conditions for men, compared to an average of 4.15 conditions and 3.08 serious conditions for women) • Were more likely to have hypertension (68.8 percent versus 55.3 percent), diabetes (36.4 percent versus 28.9 percent), obstructive sleep apnea (71.9 percent versus 45.7 percent), and metabolic syndrome (20.9 percent versus 15.2 percent) • Had higher body mass index (BMI) measures (an average of 48.7kg/m2 BMI for males compared to 46.6kg/m2 BMI for females) and were more likely to have class IV obesity, which is a BMI between 50 and 59kg/m2 • Were about two years older than the women and more likely to be over 50 years of age Even though the weight, health, quality of life, psychosocial function and lifespan of a man with obesity could be dramatically improved by surgical weight loss, Ali said that he and other bariatric surgeons must balance these potential benefits against the patient's risk for postsurgical complications. "This risk would be significantly lessened if obese males were referred to bariatric surgeons before they develop serious disease complications," said Ali, whose study is believed to be the first in the US to investigate gender-specific health disparities in patients seeking weightloss surgery. At the time of Ali's analysis, 930 patients (70 percent) included in the study had undergone bariatric surgery, but only 14.4 percent of them were men. A copy of "A Call to Arms: Obese Men with More Severe Comorbid Disease and Underutilization of Bariatric Operations," is available at http://link.springer.com/article/10.100 7%2Fs00464-013-3122-1. Contact contact Karen Finney at karen.finney@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu for more informaiton. For more information on UC Davis, visit healthsystem.ucdavis.edu. OBESITY ACTION COALITION (OAC) WELCOMES TED KYLE, RPH, MBA, AS CHAIRMAN OF THE COALITION AND ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD MEMBERS FOR 2014 TAMPA, Florida—The OAC is pleased to welcome Ted Kyle, RPh, MBA, as Chairman of the Coalition. As a longtime OAC member, recipient of the 2012 OAC "Member of the Year" award and frequent Your Weight Matters Magazine author, Ted has consistently provided the OAC with dedication, knowledge and obesityfocused expertise. "The OAC is unlike any other obesity-focused non-profit. The OAC truly represents those affected by this disease and fights on a daily basis to ensure those affected are respectfully represented in all areas, such as advocacy, combating weight bias and discrimination, treatment and much more. I hope my service can complement the passion and determination of all our members," said Ted Kyle, RPh, MBA, OAC Chairman. Ted has served on the OAC National Board of Directors since 2010 and was named vice-chairman of the Coalition in early 2013. The OAC also welcomes Tammy Beaumont, BSN, RN, CBN; Walter Medlin, MD, FACS; and Melinda J. Watman, BSN, MSN, CNM, MBA; to the 2014 OAC National Board of Directors. Tammy joined the OAC in 2005 and is the director of a bariatric program in Dallas, a certified bariatric nurse and a bariatric surgery patient. Tammy serves on various OAC committees, such as the Convention planning committee, the Convention Program Agenda Subcommittee, the Revenue Generation Committee, and more. Dr. Medlin was recently honored with the OAC's "Member of the Year" award and is a frequent author in Your Weight Matters Magazine. He is the director of the Metabolic Surgery program at Billings Clinic in Montana and has struggled with his weight since first grade. Melinda, recipient of the OAC's "Bias Buster of the Year" award, has testified with courage and passion to a panel of legislators about her personal experiences with weight bias and obesity, the importance of respecting people of all sizes and shapes and protecting them from discrimination. The remaining OAC National Board of Directors are as follows: Pam Davis, RN, BSN, CBN, Immediate-Past Chairman; Georgeann Mallory, RD, Treasurer; Jacqueline Jacques, ND, Secretary; Jim Fivecoat, MBA; Amber Huett-Garcia, BS, MPA; Robert Kushner, MD; Holly F. Lofton, MD; Tracy Martinez, RN, BSN, CBN; Lloyd Stegemann, MD, FASMBS; and Michelle Vicari. The 2014 Board of Directors' slate was presented to the membership in the November 2013 OAC Members Make a Difference e-newsletter. We invited our members to review the slate and submit their own candidate, if desired. The OAC received full support of the slate and we now welcome Tammy, Dr. Medlin and Melinda to the Board. For more information on the OAC National Board of Directors, please visit the OAC website at www.ObesityAction.org. The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), a nearly 50,000 memberstrong National non-profit organization, is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals affected by the disease of obesity through education, advocacy and support. NEWS FROM THE AMERICAN BOARD OF OBESITY MEDICINE American Board of Obesity Medicine announces an early application deadline for the 2014 certification examination. Certification examination for obesity medicine physician candidates will now have the opportunity to submit applications for an early deadline at a reduced application fee. • Early Application Deadline: July 21, 2014 Fee: $1,500 • Application Deadline: September 15, 2014 Fee: $1,750 Visit http://abom.org/how-toapply/policies-procedures/ to download the examination policies and procedures. ABOM announces plans to launch an online application portal. The ABOM will launch its online application portal in January