Obesity is a chronic medical condition and a major public health problem affecting one in four Canadian adults, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Recognized globally as a chronic disease, “obesity is not a lifestyle choice. It’s very much rooted in biology,” said Dr. Shahebina Walji, medical director of the Calgary Weight Management Centre and a clinical lecturer in the University of Calgary’s Department of Family Medicine.
“There is no other chronic disease where we expect people to override biology using willpower. When someone tries to lose weight, their body will fight back,” she said. “It’s a physiological and metabolic response to weight loss that will invariably favour weight regain after a person tries to lose weight.”
Walji noted there are significant direct and indirect costs associated with obesity, which are linked to myriad other chronic health problems, such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, abnormal cholesterol, osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, various cancers, heart disease, and neuropsychiatric disease, as well as a higher mortality risk. Successful weight management results in both health and economic benefits, which can improve employee productivity. “Even a modest reduction in weight (5% to 10%) has been shown to result in so many health benefits,” Walji said.
In terms of treatment options, the Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Prevention and Management of Obesity recommends that adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or greater should receive support in making health behaviour modifications, including dietary and physical activity counseling. And, for many, psychological considerations should also be a key part of the treatment plan, Walji said.
For those with a BMI of 30 or greater, or those who have a higher health risk, pharmacotherapy can be used as an adjunct to health behaviour modifications.
“Promising new medications are becoming available to help manage obesity, but they need to be accessible to patients,” said Walji, who believes there must be a shift in thinking in order to improve treatment access and help people manage their weight more effectively.
“Obesity treatment is changing. And for real change to happen, change needs to happen in every sector of society.”
All the articles from the event can be found in our special section: 2015 Calgary Drug Trends Summit Coverage.