A framework for physician assistant intervention for overweight and obesity.

Lawrence Herman1, John G McGinnity, Michael Doll

  • 1Lawrence Herman is an associate professor and chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at the New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury, N.Y. He is the chair of the AAPA Overweight and Obesity Task Force. John G. McGinnity is program director and clinical associate professor at the Department of Healthcare Sciences PA Program at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich. Michael Doll is the chief physician assistant in the cardiothoracic surgery service at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa. Eric D. Peterson is a fellow of the Alliance for Continuing Education and a certified continuing healthcare development professional. Amanda Russell practices orthopedics at OrthoVirginia in Midlothian, Va. At the time this article was written, Joseph Largay was a clinical instructor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and practiced in the outpatient clinic of the Diabetes Care Center. He has since joined AstraZeneca as a full-time employee. Mr. Herman discloses that he is a consultant for Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi Aventis. Mr. Largay discloses that he is a consultant for AstraZeneca, Sanofi, Takeda, and Vivus; and receives grants and research funding from Amylin, Andromeda, Boehringer Ingelheim, GI Dynamics, Halozyme, Hoffmann-LaRoche, Immune Tolerance Network, Jaeb Center For Health Research Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Lexicon, Lilly, Medtronic, Merck, Novo-Nordisk, Orexigen, Phase Bio, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute, Sanofi Aventis, and Tolerx. The other authors disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.

Summary

Physician assistants (PAs) encounter overweight and obesity frequently. Clear definitions and efficient screening, diagnosis, and management algorithms are essential for effective PA-led treatment of this chronic disease.

Related Concept Videos

Acute Coronary Syndrome IV: Interprofessional Care01:28

Acute Coronary Syndrome IV: Interprofessional Care

IntroductionThe management of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) aims to minimize myocardial damage, preserve myocardial function, and prevent complications.Initial ManagementInpatient management involves continuous cardiac monitoring, preferably in an ICU, focusing on blood pressure, serum sodium, potassium, and creatinine levels, and urine output. Ongoing pharmacologic management is crucial for stabilizing the patient.Supplemental Oxygen: Administer supplemental oxygen if oxygen saturation is...
478
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in...
1.6K
Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care01:27

Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is characterized by narrowed arteries that diminish blood flow to the extremities. Effective management of PAD requires an interprofessional approach involving various healthcare professionals. The critical aspects of interprofessional care for PAD patients focus on risk factor modification, drug therapy, exercise therapy, nutrition therapy, critical limb ischemia care, and interventional radiology and surgical procedures.The primary treatment goal for PAD...
594
Drug Dosing: Obese Patients01:21

Drug Dosing: Obese Patients

In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...
345
Atherosclerosis III: Management01:26

Atherosclerosis III: Management

Management of atherosclerosis involves an integrated strategy encompassing pharmacological treatment, surgical interventions, lifestyle changes, and nutrition therapy to address the multifactorial nature of the disease.Pharmacological TherapyA cornerstone of atherosclerosis management is the use of pharmacological agents. Statins, such as atorvastatin, are pivotal in inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that catalyzes an initial step in cholesterol synthesis in the liver. This reduction in...
593
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution01:25

Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution

Obesity significantly alters the pharmacokinetic processes of drug absorption and distribution, presenting unique challenges in medical treatment. The increased fat tissue and decreased lean muscle in obese individuals can significantly affect how drugs are absorbed into the body and distributed across different tissues. This alteration can lead to variances in the effectiveness and safety of medications, necessitating adjustments in dosing or drug selection for obese patients.One notable...
399