Are we doing enough to ensure that no one is left behind in the fight against obesity? What if bariatric surgery is not just about weight loss, but about treating a chronic, misunderstood disease?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Richard Peterson, the newly elected president of the ASMBS, to talk about his mission to No One Left Behind. From his military roots to his passionate advocacy, Dr. Peterson delves deeply into why obesity is considered a disease, how bariatric surgery is a critical form of medical care rather than a cosmetic procedure, and what must change to ensure equitable access, education, and support for all.

Tune in, and don’t forget to join the BariNation community to attend community meetups, watch exclusive bonus content and support the podcast for as low as $5 per month!   

IN THIS EPISODE:

• (03:47) Dr. Peterson shares his professional background and the mission of ASMBS
• (10:40) As president, past initiatives will move forward and the discussion of bias toward obesity
• (18:01) Dr. Peterson’s mission is a call to action to “No One Left Behind,” which stems from his military background
• (31:06) Bariatric surgery is not a cosmetic procedure. Obesity is a disease
• (40:40) The importance of obesity education and why obesity not being associated with a specific organ was a game changer
• (49:06) Words matter, you aren’t just losing weight, you are fighting obesity
• (54:55) If you are suffering from obesity, you can get help. The mission is to remove the barriers

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Dr. Peterson’s theme is “No One Left Behind," focusing on ensuring access to obesity treatment for all patients, supporting practices, and fostering unity across the bariatric community.
• Dr. Peterson continues efforts to reduce shame and stigma by educating medical professionals and the public that obesity is a disease, not a personal failing.
• Initiatives focus on integrating obesity education into medical curricula and advocating for comprehensive treatment access to enhance patient care.

RESOURCES:

• BariNation Website 
• Join the BariNation Membership community meetups to support you on your journey with obesity treatment. https://barination.com/pages/join-our-community
• Want to see bonus content? Head over to https://www.patreon.com/BariNationPodcast to get more and support the podcast for as low as $5 per month!    

OTHER RESOURCES: 

BariNation - Email

GUEST RESOURCES:

ASMBS - Website

Dr. Richard Peterson LinkedIn

UT Health San Antonio 

BIOGRAPHY: 

Dr. Peterson serves as the Chief of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery for UT Health San Antonio and is the medical director of the Christus Weight Loss Institute at Westover Hills.

Dr. Peterson is highly active in both clinical and academic aspects of bariatric surgery. He is the current president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons (ASMBS), a past president of the Texas Association for Bariatric Surgery (TABS) and has chaired several committees for the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), including the Public Education Committee and the Communications Committee. He moderates and runs the largest online bariatric journal club on Facebook and serves as the Social Media Editor for Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (SOARD), the official journal of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). 

ABOUT:

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