Podcast Episode 178: The Science & Culture of Obesity (Part 2) – Dr. Gabriel Smolarz

Changing the Obesity Conversation, Culture and Community

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for losing weight. That’s where getting healthcare professionals to talk to patients about obesity differently comes into play.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the prevalence of obesity increased from 30.5% to 42.4% and the prevalence of severe obesity increased from 4.7% to 9.2% from 1999-2000 through 2017-2018.

Despite understanding the complexities of obesity and efforts to curb obesity, rates continue to rise. Our current approach is inadequate with a siloed and mechanistic healthcare system, polarized perspectives on body acceptance and diet culture, and a lack of knowledge or access to treatment options and improved outcomes.

This two-part podcast series addresses the science and social science of obesity with a goal of changing how we see, prevent and treat obesity by helping people with obesity see their weight and weight management differently, and helping physicians and other healthcare professionals gain a more robust understanding of obesity and talk with their patients about obesity differently.

Tune in to this episode to learn about:

• The brain’s role in appetite control and regulating food intake
• The different drivers of why people eat including homeostatic eating, hedonic eating and executive function
• Hormones involved in signaling the brain about hunger and satiety
• How there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution for losing weight
• Why physicians and other healthcare professionals need to talk to patients about obesity differently
• The reality that people with obesity do not have to manage this on their own and there is hope and personalized strategies to manage weight that go beyond diet and exercise
• Even just a 5-15% weight loss can improve some weight related conditions

Data show that people with obesity think of it as their responsibility – that they have to manage their weight on their own. The reality is there is hope and personalized strategies to manage weight that go beyond the old trope of diet and exercise.”

Tune into episode #177 with guest Noël Theodosiou for Part 1 of this series where we discuss the insights from social sciences to help move the obesity conversation forward and improve obesity care.

B. Gabriel Smolarz, MD, MS, FACE, Dipl ABOM Medical Director, Novo Nordisk

Dr. Gabriel Smolarz is a practicing physician and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical school. He also routinely teaches medical students and resident physicians. He is an international speaker and lecturer on obesity, diabetes, thyroid disease, and medical education. When not seeing patients or teaching, he also works as a medical director at Novo Nordisk.

If we can continue to educate both patients and healthcare providers on the realities of obesity and the weight management options and tools that are available, including prescription medicines, we will see an improvement that benefits everyone. I know it.”

Resources:

TruthAboutWeight.com

RethinkObesity.com

GLP-1 and the Brain Play a Key Role in Appetite Control and the Science of Obesity 

Dr. Gabe on LinkedIn

Related Posts/Episodes:

The Science & Culture of Obesity (Part 1) – Podcast Episode #177 with Noël Theodosiou

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Music by Dave Birk

Produced by JAG in Detroit Podcasts

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