Overcoming Obesity 2020 – Virtual Speaker Series: Q&A with Dr. Verlyn Warrington

The fall conference is almost here, and this year, we’re going entirely virtual. We hope you will join us from the comfort of home for the leading medical obesity conference providing clinical obesity treatment education and tools to healthcare providers. This year, we’re diving into the theme of Treating Obesity Across the Lifespan to discuss practical strategies that many providers encounter in daily practice.

Ahead of the event, we’re introducing some of our speakers to learn more about their sessions and the insights that attendees can expect to gain. We recently sat down with Verlyn Warrington, MD, MS, FOMA to discuss the session she’ll be co-presenting with Vivienne Rose, MD on Treating Obesity in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Urban and Rural Communities.

In the session, they will discuss how the major determinants of health occur outside the traditional medical visit and how healthcare providers can better identify factors that contribute to obesity in socio-economically disadvantaged populations. Drs. Warrington and Rose will also discuss strategies for effective working relationships and practical weight loss protocols for these patients.

We sat down with Dr. Warrington to ask a few questions about these factors and what to expect from her session.

Obesity Medicine Association (OMA): How does a person’s socioeconomic status impact their health – particularly as it relates to obesity?

Dr. Warrington: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. When treating obesity, it is important to tailor the treatment plan to the resources that the patient has available.

OMA: Why is it important for healthcare providers to consider the context of the patient’s environment when determining the best treatment plan?

Dr. Warrington: It is important to meet patients where they are and develop treatment plans that can be executed in the context of their social environment. This helps to nurture self-efficacy and maximizes the chances that the patient can be compliant with recommended therapies.

OMA: What can healthcare providers do to keep disadvantaged patients with obesity engaged in treatment?

Dr. Warrington: Healthcare providers can set small goals that are achievable in the context of the patient’s social environment, follow up with the patient frequently and continue to build treatment plans in a stepwise fashion.

OMA: What is the one thing that you hope attendees will take away from your session?

Dr. Warrington: Providers should be aware that most of the work surrounding obesity care does not happen in the setting of a medical visit. The patient’s success in large part will depend on how well they are able to make recommended changes while navigating their social environment and how well the provider can support them in doing so.
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Interested in attending Dr. Warrington’s session? Join us October 9 – 11 and register for the Fall Obesity Summit 2020. Visit us here to register, view the conference schedule, and explore our pre-conference courses.