

Obesity: A Disease
Obesity Medicine
Obesity: A Disease is the official Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) FREE podcast exploring the many facets of the disease of obesity. Episodes provide valuable insights into this growing problem and better equip clinicians to understand and engage in treating this disease.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 7, 2022 • 34min
Episode 53: Clinical Conversations: The "Evidence-based" vs. "Internet-based" Keto Diet
In this episode, obesity medicine specialist and OMA clinical education director Dr. Nicholas Pennings interviews Dr. Eric Westman, highlighted speaker from the Overcoming Obesity 2021 Conference, about updates on keto diet clinical research and a survey of "internet keto" diet users. Topics covered include impacts of episodic low-carb eating, common mistakes when following low carb programs, the role of supplements in the ketogenic diet, and intermittent fasting.
You can access more information about Obesity Medicine podcasts and other resources from the clinical leader in Obesity Medicine at www.obesitymedicine.org/podcasts.
Episode Guests
Nicholas Pennings, DO, FOMA, Dipl. ABOM
Eric Westman, MD

Jan 31, 2022 • 25min
Episode 52: Clinical Conversations: STEP, The First of Many Steps Toward the Future of Obesity Pharmacotherapy
In this episode, obesity medicine specialist and OMA clinical education director Dr. Nicholas Pennings interviews Dr. Robert Kushner, highlighted speaker from the Overcoming Obesity 2021 Conference, about The Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity (STEP) Trials. Topics covered include the results of the four STEP trails, obstacles to treating obesity, new obesity treatments in the pipeline, and the opportunities for increasing obesity education for future clinicians.
You can access more information about Obesity Medicine podcasts and other resources from the clinical leader in Obesity Medicine at www.obesitymedicine.org/podcasts.
Episode Guest
Nicholas Pennings, DO, FOMA, Dipl. ABOM
Robert Kushner, MD
Resources Mentioned
2021 Fall Obesity Summit

Jan 4, 2022 • 21min
Episode 51: Clinical Conversations: Better Together: Exploring Combination Therapies for Obesity Management
In this episode, obesity medicine specialist and OMA clinical education director Dr. Nicholas Pennings interviews Dr. Angela Fitch, highlighted speaker from the Overcoming Obesity 2021 Conference, about identifying and selecting obesity treatment strategies from the wide variety of options currently available to manage patients with obesity. Topics covered include matching patient characteristics to treatment plans, shared decision-making, maintaining a 4-pillar approach to obesity treatment, and the role of obesity medications in the management of bariatric surgery patients.
You can access more information about Obesity Medicine podcasts and other resources from the clinical leader in Obesity Medicine at www.obesitymedicine.org/podcasts.
Episode Guests
Nicholas Pennings, DO, FOMA, Dipl. ABOM
Angela Fitch, MD, ABOM
Related Resources
Fall 2021 Obesity Summit CME Lectures
Fall 2021 Obesity Summit Non-CME Lectures

Dec 6, 2021 • 24min
Episode 50: Clinical Conversations: A Hot Mess: Obesity, Inflammation, and CVD Systems Thinking
In this episode, Obesity medicine specialist and OMA clinical education director, Dr. Nicholas Pennings interviews Dr. Lance Simkins, highlighted speaker from Obesity Medicine 2021 – Virtual, about obesity, inflammation and cardiovascular disease. Topics covered include, how obesity promotes inflammation in the body and in turn contributes to heart disease, the role epicardial fat plays in both atherosclerosis and heart failure, and how obesity contributes to the risk of developing thrombotic events like acute myocardial infarction or stroke.
You can access more information about Obesity Medicine podcasts and other resources from the clinical leader in Obesity Medicine at www.obesitymedicine.org/podcasts.
Episode Guests
Nicholas Pennings, DO, FOMA, Dipl. ABOM
Laance Simkins, MD, FACC
Resources Mentioned
A Hot Mess: Obesity, Inflammation, and CVD Systems Thinking

Nov 1, 2021 • 27min
Episode 49: Clinical Conversations: Primary Care Management of Patients Following Bariatric Surgery
In this episode, Obesity medicine specialist and OMA clinical education director, Dr. Nicholas Pennings interviews Dr. Catherine Varney, highlighted speaker from Obesity Medicine 2021 – Virtual, about primary care management of patients following bariatric surgery. Topics covered include reasons patients do not follow up with bariatric surgeons, what primary care providers need to think about when possibly deprescribing medications following major weight loss, and the role primary care can play in the future long-term management of patients who have had bariatric surgery.
You can access more information about Obesity Medicine podcasts and other resources from the clinical leader in Obesity Medicine at www.obesitymedicine.org/podcasts.
Episode Guests
Nicholas Pennings, DO, FOMA, Dipl. ABOM
Catherine Varney, DO, Dipl. ABOM
Resources Mentioned
Primary Care Management of Patients in Post Bariatric Surgery

Oct 18, 2021 • 30min
Episode 48: Clinical Conversations: Precision Therapy for Obesity
In this episode, Obesity medicine specialist and OMA clinical education director, Dr. Nicholas Pennings interviews Dr. Andres Acosta, highlighted speakers from Obesity Medicine 2021 – Virtual, about precision therapy for obesity. Topics covered include, the four different obesity phenotypes, how these phenotypes evolve, how providers can better identify specific phenotypes and tailor their treatment, and the role precision medicine may play in future patient care for obesity.
You can access more information about Obesity Medicine podcasts and other resources from the clinical leader in Obesity Medicine at http://www.obesitymedicine.org/podcasts.
Guest Speakers
Nicholas Pennings, DO, FOMA, Dipl. ABOM
Andres Acosta, MD, PhD
Resources Mentioned
Precision Medicine for Treating Obesity

Sep 20, 2021 • 19min
Episode 47: Clinical Conversations: Do No Harm - Alternatives to Weight Promoting Medications
In this episode, Obesity medicine specialist and OMA clinical education director, Dr. Nicholas Pennings interviews Dr. Donna Ryan, highlighted speaker from Obesity Medicine 2021 – Virtual, about alternatives to weight promoting medications. Topics covered include, most commonly prescribed medications that are associated with weight gain, the variable impact of individual medications on weight, strategies that providers can use to mitigate weight effects when a patient needs to be on a medication that promotes weight gain, and resources providers can use to learn more about medications that cause weight gain and their alternatives.
You can access more information about Obesity Medicine podcasts and other resources from the clinical leader in Obesity Medicine at www.obesitymedicine.org/podcasts.
Episode Guests
Nicholas Pennings, DO, FOMA, Dipl. ABOM
Donna Ryan, MD
Resources Mentioned
Do No Harm Alternatives to Weight Promoting Medications

Sep 3, 2021 • 14min
Episode 46: Article Reviews: Determinants of Weight Loss Maintenance
In this episode, OMA Chief Science Officer, Harold Bays, MD, FOMA, FTOS, FACC, FNLA, FASPC and Sarah Wells, MD discuss a recent article about the determinants of weight loss maintenance. Topics covered include what determinants were found to be positively predictive in weight loss maintenance, which determinants are non-significant for weight loss maintenance, and how to translate this article into clinical application.
In our article review podcasts, we have carefully selected recent articles included in the latest version of the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) Obesity Algorithm, which is a comprehensive review of obesity medicine that can be found at obesitymedicine.org.
Episode Guests
Harold Bays, MD, FOMA, FTOS, FACC, FNLA, FASPC
Sarah Wells, MD
Resources Mentioned
Varkevisser RDM, van Stralen MM, Kroeze W, et al.: Determinants of weight loss maintenance: a systematic review. Obes Rev 2019 20:171-211.

Aug 16, 2021 • 30min
Episode 45: Clinical Conversations: Obesity Treatment in a Primary Care Setting
In this episode, Obesity medicine specialist and OMA clinical education director, Dr. Nicholas Pennings interviews Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar, highlighted speakers from Obesity Medicine 2021 – Virtual, about treating obesity in a primary care setting. Topics covered include, discussing weight management with patients, addressing bias and stigma in the office setting, challenging misconceptions about obesity, and next steps for increasing the role that primary care plays in the treatment of obesity.
You can access more information about Obesity Medicine podcasts and other resources from the clinical leader in Obesity Medicine at http://www.obesitymedicine.org/podcasts.
Episode Guests
Nicholas Pennings, DO, FOMA, Dipl. ABOM
Nikhil Dhurandhar, Ph.D.
Resources Mentioned
OMA Academy: Obesity Management in Primary Care Challenges and Solutions

Aug 4, 2021 • 14min
Episode 44: Article Reviews: Patient Assisted Virtual Physical
In this episode, OMA Chief Science Officer, Harold Bays, MD, FOMA, FTOS, FACC, FNLA, FASPC interviews Carolynn Francavilla, MD, FOMA to discuss a recent article on virtual physicals using telehealth. Topics covered include: Individualizing the telehealth physical exam, limitations and opportunities of the telehealth exam, and challenges for prescribing anti-obesity medications by telehealth.
To access other resources from the clinical leader in Obesity Medicine, visit www.obesitymedicine.org.
Episode Guests
Harold Bays, MD, FOMA, FTOS, FACC, FNLA, FASPC
Carolynn Francavilla, MD, FOMA
Resources Mentioned
The Telehealth Ten: A Guide for a Patient-Assisted Virtual Physical Examination