Managing Obesity Risk: The Weight Epidemic Can’t Wait

PBGH and the Integrated Benefits Institute hosted a webinar series on obesity and weight management.

Presentations addressed the science of obesity and developing a whole person health approach that integrates medical, behavioral and psychosocial aspects of weight management. This series brought together academic, purchaser, patient, health plan and provider perspectives.

Why now: Obesity is a key risk factor not only for diabetes and cardiac disease, and the urgency of a population-based approach has increased due to greater risk for COVID complications. Learn about important implications for benefit design and prescription drug formulary management.

Wednesday, May 25, 2022, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT
What Purchasers Need to Know

• Understanding the science of obesity
• Myths and facts about obesity
• Quantifying the impact of obesity on employee health and our health care system
• Creating a benefit design to address obesity care

Panelists:

• Andrew Brown, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Applied Health Sciences, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington
• Jenny Goins, Kentuckiana Health Collaborative, formerly Kentucky State Employers

Click here for bios of the panelists.

Presentations:

• Understanding the Science of Obesity – Andrew Brown, Ph.D.
• Impact of Obesity on Employer Health Plans – Jenny Goins

Click here to view the recording from the May 25 session.

Wednesday, June 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT
Creating an Inclusive and Comprehensive Benefit Offering

• A patient perspective on benefits access and benefits coverage language
• Designing a patient-centered program
• Success factors in member engagement and outcomes

Panelists:

• Ava Zebrick, MSHCM, Patient Experience Supervisor, Oschner Medical Center
• Bruce Sherman, M.D,, FCCP, FACOEM, Medical Director, North Carolina Business Group on Health
• Rachel Miegel, Well-being Program Strategist, CSAA Insurance Group

Click here for bios of the panelists.

Presentations:

• Support for Obesity Patients – Ava Zebrick, MSHCM
• Managing Obesity Risk: The Weight Epidemic Can’t Wait – Bruce Sherman, M.D,, FCCP, FACOEM
• Weight Management Solutions – Rachel Miegel

Click here to view the recording from the June 1 session.

Wednesday, June 8, 2022, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT
Addressing Obesity as Part of a Whole-Person Health Strategy

• Engaging members to improve total health
• Weight management support as part of a well-being strategy
• Addressing health equity and social determinants
• Providing a comprehensive strategy to support members

Panelists:

• Rami Bailony, M.D., Co-Founder & CEO, Enara Health
• Tammy Watts, Clinical Services Program Manager, Pacific Gas & Electric Company
• Anuruddh Kumar Misra, M.D., FACP, CAQSM, QME, Premise Health/Pacific Gas & Electric Company
• Jason Parrot, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Growth and Partnerships, Vida Health
• Tara Sherman, Well-being Strategy Leader, The Boeing Company

Click here for bios of the panelists.

Presentations:

• Obesity Care: Lesson Learned from HPSM-Enara Pilot – Rami Bailony, M.D.

Click here to view a recording from the June 8 session.

Resources:

• CDC Obesity Information
• Obesity Action Coalition Consumer Resources
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality on Screening for and Management of Obesity, Including During Pregnancy
• Harvard School of Public Health: Healthcare Obesity Prevention Recommendations 
• Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute
• Evaluating Workplace Health Programs
  • Infographic

Articles by speakers:

Andrew Brown, Ph.D.

• Casazza K, Fontaine KR, Astrup A, et al. Myths, Presumptions, and Facts about Obesity N Engl J Med 2013; 368:446-454. Accessed at: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1208051
• Vorland CJ, Brown AW, Dawson JA, et al. Errors in the implementation, analysis, and reporting of randomization within obesity and nutrition research: a guide to their avoidance, International Journal of Obesity (2021) 45:2335–2346; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-021-00909-z

Ava Zebrick

• Kennedy BM, Davison G, Fowler LA, et al. Perceptions of a Pragmatic Family-Centered Approach to Childhood Obesity Treatment. Ochsner Journal 21:30–40, 2021. Accessed at: http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/ochjnl/21/1/30.full.pdf

This educational program was developed with a grant from Novo Nordisk and in-kind support from the Integrated Benefits Institute and Purchaser Business Group on Health.