Diabetes conference told Canada is facing national obesity crisis

VANCOUVER, Oct. 13, 2012 /CNW/ - Excess body fat is linked to the development of type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease and obstructive sleep apnea.  While Canada's Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Obesity are the first national guidelines to be developed on the treatment of this disease, the challenge is that the treatment of obesity is primarily left to private weight loss programs. These often lack medical supervision and specialized expertise, yet the consequences of obesity are having a major impact on the Canadian healthcare system.

Vancouver doctor, Alissa Zentner, who has specialized in the treatment of obesity for 10 years, says "it's time obesity, the disease that begins it all, is taken more seriously by the medical profession." She adds, "With more than half of our population suffering from this disease, the task before us as a medical community is unprecedented," she says. "We are faced with a national crisis; one that will only worsen as our patient population grows older and more obese."

Dr. Zentner believes it is time to address obesity at the medical grassroots level.  "Obesity medicine is more complicated than eat less and move more, but even modest weight loss can have a positive impact," she says.

Dr. Zentner is speaking at today at 9 a.m.to the 15^th annual conference of the Canadian Diabetes Association/Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism in Vancouver, (Vancouver Convention Centre West building rooms 211-214).  Her presentation - The weight of the world - Obesity: the disease that begins it all; will focus on the evidence surrounding lifestyle modification in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. It will share with the audience some practical strategies on how to implement lifestyle changes in their patients in a busy primary care practice setting.

Key learning's from Dr. Zentner's presentation include:

• The disease process of obesity from a genetic, physiological, and environmental perspective.
• Why permanent weight loss is so challenging and yet so important.
• The impact of small weight changes on the disease continuum.
• Key points for successful treatment of obesity in clinical practice

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About the Canadian Diabetes Association

The Canadian Diabetes Association is a registered charitable organization, leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure. Our professional staff and more than 20,000 volunteers provide education and services to help people in their daily fight against the disease, advocate on behalf of people with diabetes for the opportunity to achieve their highest quality of life, and break ground towards a cure. Please visit diabetes.ca, join us on facebook.com/CanadianDiabetesAssociation, follow us on Twitter @DiabetesAssoc, or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).

SOURCE: Canadian Diabetes Association

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