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This past Saturday, the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) hosted the second event of its virtual Your Weight Matters Convention. With more than 2,000 registered attendees from more than 25 countries and 300 cities, YWM2020-VIRTUAL continues to see high momentum across the world!
Saturday’s event leaned on science to explain why managing weight can be so complicated. It also made the case for why other treatments besides “eat less, move more” are important. YWM2020-VIRTUAL not only challenged attendees to look closer at factors that affect our weight, but it also walked them through different weight-loss options and pointed out the value in a personalized approach.
YWM2020-VIRTUAL Day 2 Recap
Session 3: Why is it So Hard to Lose Weight and Keep it off?
Presented by Kevin Hall, PhD
In this session, Dr. Hall took a deep dive into the science of our bodies. He explained factors such as changes to our metabolism, appetite increase, body weight set point and more. All of these factors have an impact on our ability to lose weight and keep it off. Dr. Hall also presented findings from a research study he helped lead that looked at contestants from “The Biggest Loser” and how their weight patterns changed after the show. The key takeaway: weight-loss and weight maintenance are complicated! A lot more goes into the equation than “calories out vs calories in.”
Session 4: “Eat Less, Move More” – We Know it’s Not that Simple: Finding Your Evidence-based Approach
Presented by Christopher D. Still, DO, FACN, FACP
Knowing that weight is so complicated, this session leaned on the same research and science and challenged us to consider all the different treatment options available to help with weight management. Dr. Still walked us through the ins and outs of lifestyle modifications, commercial and community programs, medication, bariatric surgery and others. The key takeaway: everyone has their own set of needs and challenges. Part of being informed is knowing what tools are available to you. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about deciding which treatment options or approaches could be a good fit for you.
Attendees’ Favorite Takeaways
- Weight-loss is not as simple as “calories in vs. calories out.”
- The body tends to resist weight-loss and promote weight regain by slowing metabolism and increasing appetite.
- Re-engineering your food environment may help you maintain lost weight.
- Obesity treatment options exist beyond just eating less and getting more exercise.
- Even modest weight-loss of just 5-10% can have significant health benefits.
- There is no “best diet” for weight-loss. What works best for you will depend on personal factors such as genetics, body type, time commitments, health concerns, etc.
- There is a lot of value in current treatment options, and access to obesity care needs to be improved so they are more available to those who need them.