Cleveland Clinic’s 11^th Annual Obesity Summit is a “must” for any healthcare practitioner treating obesity in adults, adolescents and children. The event on Sept. 29 and 30 will present new information on the causes of obesity, the latest science linking obesity to other diseases and innovative treatments for this all-too-common condition.

An impressive faculty of experts in various fields related to obesity will present engaging, informative talks. Additionally, the summit will offer opportunities for conference attendees to interact with colleagues and patients, watch live surgeries, participate in hands-on workshops, case-based lessons and Q&A sessions.

New information on causes of obesity

The underlying cause of obesity may not always be an imbalance between calories consumed and calories spent. New findings suggest multiple factors are often at play. Keynote speaker Jerry Heindel, PhD, from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, will discuss how hormones and chemicals in the environment can provoke obesity. In a separate lecture, Samuel Klein, MD, of Washington University, will explain how some obese patients can be metabolically normal and healthy, while others are unhealthy.

Nonmedical, nonsurgical treatments for obesity

Although diet and exercise are pillars of obesity treatment, many providers are challenged to help patients understand and comply with lifestyle changes. Several talks will be devoted to the optimal diets for achieving short- and long-term weight loss, reversing cardiovascular disease and tailoring exercise prescriptions to physical limitations. Workshop attendees will learn techniques for motivating their patients to lose weight.

A lecture on how eating disorders can sabotage treatment outcomes will provide valuable information on dealing with this specific patient population. Other speakers will focus on technological devices for self-monitoring and internet-based strategies to motivate patients or allow them to track their diet and exercise progress.

A new approach to obesity treatment involves the use of alternative therapies. Mark Hyman, MD, Director of Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Functional Medicine, will talk about the role of vitamins and other non-traditional approaches to helping obese patients lose weight and be healthy.

Learning how medications can help or harm

With four new drugs for obesity approved in last two years, there is interest in how medications can and should be integrated into treatment. Several speakers will address this issue. Others will talk about drugs that cause weight gain and diabetes medications that cause weight loss.

The role of surgery

Recently issued guidelines for bariatric surgery have been endorsed by more than 50 professional organizations worldwide. Summit director Philip Schauer, MD, Director of Advanced Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery in Cleveland Clinic’s Bariatric and Metabolic Institute, will discuss how these guidelines differ from previous guidelines.

Information on new endoscopic procedures will be presented. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to watch one or more live bariatric procedures performed at Cleveland Clinic and ask questions of the surgeons.  While the procedures to be broadcast depend on patient availability, Dr. Schauer expects the procedures to be a sleeve gastrectomy and a gastric balloon.

Obesity in young patients

With obesity rates in the U.S. continue to climb, providers are seeing an increasing number of pediatric and adolescent patients. Thursday afternoon is devoted to treatments for this age group. New information on the relationship between obesity, sleeping habits and school lunch choices will be presented.

Cleveland Clinic pediatrician Sara Lappe, MD, will discuss techniques for managing pediatric obesity beyond diet and exercise. Attendees will not want to miss the presentation made by University of Cincinnati pediatric bariatric surgeon Thomas Inge, MD, comparing the long-term durability of bariatric surgery with the risks of not operating on obese adolescents.

Obesity-associated comorbidities

Obesity can impact multiple organ systems, making it necessary for patients to be closely monitored for associated medical issues.  In this summit, Steven Nissen, MD, Chairman of Cleveland Clinic’s Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute, will discuss the cardiovascular effects of obesity and impact of treatment strategies. Experts from Cleveland Clinic and other medical centers will present useful information on obesity and cancer, periodontal disease, Alzheimer’s, liver disease and psychiatric issues.

And much more

With so many choices for treating patients, how does a practitioner know where to begin? A panel of Cleveland Clinic experts will address this issue and discuss the integration of lifestyle, surgery and medicine.

An interactive panel discussion with patients will help attendees understand how weight loss was achieved with and without surgery.

Attendees will also have an opportunity to present cases to a panel of obesity experts and receive input.

Fun and games

Treating obesity is serious business, but summit attendees will enjoy some light moments.

On Friday, Kevin Hall, MD, from the National Institutes of Health will talk about why most Biggest Loser contestants regain their weight within five years.

Summit participants will also have an opportunity to win a FitBit by guessing the average BMI and percentage of body fat of the audience. A Fitbit will also be awarded to the participant who makes the closest guess to the average BMI of Summit co-directors Bartolome Burguera, MD, PhD, John P. Kirwan, PhD, and Dr. Schauer.

The 11^th Annual Obesity Summit is Sept. 29 and 30, 2016, at the InterContinental Hotel and Bank of America Conference Center on the Cleveland Clinic Campus. Please click here for CME and registration information.