Dr. Emily Dhurandhar, Co-Chair of the Live Smart Texas Coalition and third generation obesity clinician in the Dhurandhar Family, recently moderated the Live Smart Texas World Obesity Day Summit. The event was held on March 1, 2023, and brought together experts in the field of obesity to discuss the current state of obesity in Texas and what is being done to address this growing health crisis.
Obesity is a major public health concern in Texas, with over 35% of adults and 17% of children being classified as obese. Obesity is a complex issue that is influenced by a range of factors, including genetics, environment, and lifestyle. It is a leading cause of preventable death and is associated with a range of health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.
The Live Smart Texas World Obesity Day Summit was held in honor of World Obesity Day and was aimed to raise awareness about the true nature of obesity as a complex disease and bring together experts to discuss solutions. The event featured a panel of experts from the who discussed various aspects of obesity, including the new American Academy of Pediatrics Childhood Obesity Treatment Guidelines , the role of policy in addressing obesity, and the importance of community engagement in promoting healthy lifestyles.
Dr. Dhurandhar, who has conducted extensive research on the causes and consequences of obesity, moderated the Summit with her Co-Chair Dr. Leah Whigham. During the summit discussion, Dr. Dhurandhar and the other presenters emphasized the importance of taking a comprehensive approach to addressing obesity. While diet and exercise are important factors in maintaining a healthy weight, there are many other factors that contribute to obesity, such as genetics, environment, and socioeconomic status.
The Summit emphasized the importance of access to evidence-based medical treatments for obesity, and also emphasized the importance of community engagement in addressing obesity. They discussed the need to involve community members in the development and implementation of obesity prevention programs, as well as the importance of cultural sensitivity in promoting healthy behaviors.
The Live Smart Texas World Obesity Day Summit was a valuable opportunity to bring together experts in the field of obesity to discuss solutions to this growing health crisis. The full recorded summit can be found online here.
