A Weight-Inclusive Approach to Optimizing Surgical and Health Outcomes

Beyond BMI: A Weight-Inclusive Approach to Optimizing Surgical and Health Outcomes

Common recommendations for individuals with overweight/obesity prior to surgery frequently include “losing weight.” Research on interventions targeting weight loss have revealed the inadequacies of such approaches, resulting in “yo-yo dieting,” and adverse effects on long term health. More recently, data suggest the importance of physical therapy focusing on strength training prior to surgery. Research related to physical therapy and surgical procedures will be presented with recommendations provided for healthcare and surgical providers for more successful outcomes.

Workshop Objectives:

• Describe challenges and solutions regarding exercise prescription and adherence for underserved patients, including those from rural areas.
• Describe mindful eating for optimal health.
• Describe key concepts and current research on weight-inclusive care, including the negative health impacts of weight stigma.
• Discuss the increased risks of sarcopenia and osteoporosis associated with weight loss, particularly when induced by pharmacological (GLP-1 medications) or surgical interventions.
• Identify exercise-based strategies to preserve and enhance lean muscle mass, bone density, and metabolic health, while addressing challenges specific to individuals in larger bodies.

This workshop is sponsored by the Arizona Biomedical Research Centre (ABRC) in collaboration with NAU's Center for Community Health and Engaged Research (CHER).