Capitol News

A team from the Michigan State University (MSU) College of Osteopathic Medicine is working to change how obesity is discussed and treated. Kim Pfotenhauer, assistant dean for clerkship education at MSU, is involved in a national project to develop an obesity education curriculum. She explains that two in five adults in the U.S. have obesity, increasing their risk for diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Pfotenhauer highlights the stigma associated with obesity, noting that since 2013 it has been recognized as a disease rather than just a lifestyle issue. "I think that patients who are overweight or obese feel a lot of judgment and bias," she says. The aim is to treat obesity holistically with more tools beyond lifestyle changes.

MSU is collaborating with nine other colleges on the FORWARD Education QI Project initiated by The Obesity Society. This involves creating 12 free modules on diagnosing and treating obesity for medical school curriculums. MSU's contribution focuses on osteopathic students, integrating new material into their biomedical sciences course.

Pfotenhauer discusses potential Medicare and Medicaid coverage for anti-obesity medications, which could be significant despite existing coverage in some states like Michigan. These medications have shown promise in reducing cardiovascular events even in non-diabetic patients.

Research indicates these medications can significantly impact health outcomes for those with obesity, including adolescents who face rising rates of overweight diagnoses. "Patients now have more options to manage their health," Pfotenhauer notes, emphasizing the evolving treatment landscape for this chronic disease.