I’m the kind of manager who likes to solve problems. And not just any problems, but those that have significant impact on people’s lives and wellbeing.  It may be why I’ve spent half of my professional life addressing one of the biggest problems facing the country for the last quarter century: obesity.

Why obesity? Obesity has proven to be a problem that is the root cause of so many other problems that are putting the health of the United States (literally) in jeopardy. Here are some facts that we’ve probably all read at one point or another, but they bear repeating because we have reached a point where none of us can afford (literally) to ignore them:

PROBLEM: Healthcare costs make up close to 20 percent of the national GDP, and 75 percent of healthcare costs are related to the diagnosis and treatment of preventable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. The underlying cause of these diseases: obesity.

PROBLEM: Companies in the U.S. have faced staggering increases in healthcare costs, experiencing on average 12 percent in insurance premium rate hikes per year. The cost increases create severe challenges for companies to stay competitive in the global economy. What is cited as the reason for an estimated annual $73 billion in medical and lost productivity costs? Obesity.

PROBLEM: More than one-third of Americans can’t go a day without taking a medication to control a chronic condition, can’t walk without pain, can’t sleep without risking apnea, and can’t perform some of the most basic activities that enrich life’s experiences. What’s the cause? Obesity. And that number amounts to more than two-thirds of the population if we include people who are categorized as overweight.

In light of these statistics, which seem to keep going in the wrong direction, there must be a clear-cut solution, right? If only! But, being a problem solver at heart, I rely on hard data and facts to point me in the right direction. The statistics tell me that physicians hold the key to reversing these alarming trends. It’s the reason I am confident the physician-directed, non-surgical weight loss approach based on evidence will be the proven method for effectively managing long-term health and preventing obesity in those who currently are not affected.

The Center for Medical Weight Loss has been ahead of its time, with its participating physicians having successfully treated thousands of patients for the better part of the last decade. But it’s only recently that third parties have started to subscribe to its approach. These include:

• In January 2012 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced coverage for physician-directed behavioral counselling for obese patients (those with a BMI of 30 or higher). Private insurers quickly followed suit.
• In May 2012 the US Preventive Service Task Force endorsed physician behavioral counselling for obesity.
• In June 2012, The American Journal of Medicine published a major study of Center for Medical Weight Loss physician-directed results, reporting clinical outcomes of an average 26 pounds lost, or 11.1 percent of total body weight lost, in 12 weeks among obese and overweight patients. 

And this is just the beginning. While we don’t purport to have all of the answers, we are confident we are onto something. But there are still much work to do and many complex issues to explore. That is why I invite you to join in the conversation and lend your voice to what you believe are sustainable solutions to effectively addressing the clinical condition of obesity. Starting today, I’ll be posting new research and commentary. I look forward to hearing from you!