Scale Up Your Practice by Obesity Canada

Obesity Canada
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Tune into Scale Up Your Practice, Obesity Canada’s podcast for healthcare professionals. Hosted by Dr. Roshan Abraham and Michelle McMillan, each episode dives into practical, evidence-informed conversations about obesity care—covering topics like weight stigma, patient-centered approaches, and the connection between obesity and other health conditions. You’ll hear expert perspectives, real-world experiences, and insights to help you provide better, more compassionate care. Listen now and scale up your practice. 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

  1. Mental health & obesity: What clinicians need to know with Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam

    12/18/2025

    Mental health & obesity: What clinicians need to know with Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam

    🎙️This episode is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Eli Lilly Canada. When conversations about obesity focus only on food, movement, or medications, something essential gets missed. Mental health is not an add-on in obesity care. It’s foundational. In this episode of Scale Up Your Practice, we’re joined by Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam, psychiatrist, researcher, Scientific Director of Obesity Canada, and co-author of the mental health chapter of the Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines. We discuss how mental health intersects with obesity across the lifespan, and why addressing depression, anxiety, trauma, disordered eating, sleep, and weight bias is essential to providing compassionate, evidence-based care. Dr. Sockalingam shares practical insights clinicians can apply in everyday practice to strengthen patient relationships, reduce stigma, and support long-term health. In this episode: Why mental health matters in obesity care: How psychological health is both a driver and complication of obesity, and why it must be integrated into assessment and treatment. Recognizing and reducing weight bias in care: Where stigma shows up in clinical conversations and systems, and how language and validation can reshape patient experience. Practical strategies for real-world practice: Simple, time-efficient ways to screen for mental health concerns, address disordered eating, and support patients beyond lifestyle-only advice. What treatment can and can’t do on its own: How medications may influence appetite and eating behaviours, and when additional psychological support is essential. Additional Resources  Research: The Cost of Inaction in Treating Obesity: https://utm.guru/ujsc2  Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines: https://utm.guru/ujsc4  Learn more about the intersection of sleep & obesity in episode 13 with Dr. Michael Mak: https://utm.guru/ujsc5  Free courses:  Intro to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Behavioural Change in Obesity Care: https://utm.guru/ujsc6  Intro to Behavioural Change Counselling for Obesity: https://utm.guru/ujsc7  Exploring the Role of Mental Health & Psychological Interventions in Obesity Management: https://utm.guru/ujsc9 📣 Register for the Canadian Obesity Summit 2026 Obesity Canada’s flagship scientific congress returns March 25–29, 2026 in Montréal. Join researchers, healthcare professionals, policy leaders, and people with lived experience for five days of learning, collaboration, and community—centered on this year’s theme: obesity across the lifespan, connecting research to real-world care. Registration is open now and tickets are already selling fast. Register today: https://utm.guru/ujsc1 🎧 Season one finale This episode marks the final episode of season one of Scale Up Your Practice. Thank you for listening and being part of this first season of the podcast. We’ll be back after a short break with season two in 2026, bringing more conversations to support compassionate, evidence-based obesity care. Enjoying the podcast? Support Scale Up Your Practice by: Sharing this episode with a colleague or team member Subscribing on your favourite podcast platform Leaving a review to help more listeners find the show 📩 Have a question or a topic you’d like us to cover? Email us at scaleuppod@obesitycanada.ca

    1h 2m
  2. Liver health & obesity with Dr. Giada Sebastiani

    12/04/2025

    Liver health & obesity with Dr. Giada Sebastiani

    🎙️This episode is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Eli Lilly Canada. Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects an estimated 38% of adults in North America — yet many patients have never heard the term before receiving a diagnosis. Confusion, stigma, outdated language, and misconceptions often contribute to delayed recognition and missed opportunities for early intervention. We’re joined by Dr. Giada Sebastiani, hepatologist and Professor of Medicine at McGill University, to explore the biological mechanisms behind MASLD, what early signs look like in clinical practice, and how to talk about liver disease in a way that reduces shame and strengthens the patient–provider alliance. Dr. Sebastiani also shares practical guidance for screening, counselling, and helping patients understand the path forward. In this episode:  The metabolic link between obesity and MASLD: How insulin resistance, adipose tissue dysfunction, and cardiometabolic risk factors drive steatosis, fibrosis, and progression to advanced liver disease. Patient communication that reduces stigma: Strategies for explaining MASLD, abnormal liver tests, and imaging findings in clear, non-blaming language that supports trust, understanding, and patient engagement. Screening and early detection essentials: Practical guidance on who to screen, how to interpret mild enzyme elevations, and when to use tools like FIB-4, transient elastography, and non-invasive biomarkers. Management that supports long-term liver and metabolic health: How lifestyle interventions, obesity pharmacotherapy, and multidisciplinary care can improve liver outcomes—and how to tailor these approaches to individual patient needs. Additional resources: The Cost of Inaction in Treating Obesity: https://utm.guru/ujpJ5  Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guideline: https://utm.guru/ujpJ6  Free course: Comprehensive Approaches to Obesity Management in Diverse Populations: https://utm.guru/ujpJ7  Free course: Words matter: The Consequences of Weight Bias and Stigmatizing Language: https://utm.guru/ujpJ8  Free course: Introduction to Behaviour Change Counselling for Obesity: https://utm.guru/ujpJ9  📣 Register for the Canadian Obesity Summit 2026 Obesity Canada’s flagship scientific congress returns March 25–29, 2026 in Montréal. Join researchers, healthcare professionals, policy leaders, and people with lived experience for five days of learning, collaboration, and community. Registration is open now and tickets are already selling fast. Register today: https://utm.guru/ujpKa  📩 Have a question or a topic you’d like us to cover? Email us at scaleuppod@obesitycanada.ca 🎧 Enjoying the podcast? Support us by: Sharing this episode with a colleague or friend Subscribing on your favourite podcast platform Leaving a review to help more listeners find the show

    44 min
  3. Understanding PCOS and obesity with Dr. Emilia Huvinen

    11/20/2025

    Understanding PCOS and obesity with Dr. Emilia Huvinen

    🎙️ This episode is sponsored. Obesity Canada received an unrestricted educational grant from Eli Lilly Canada to produce this episode. 🎙️ Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common—and most misunderstood—conditions in women’s health. It affects an estimated 6–13% of women globally, yet up to 70% remain undiagnosed. PCOS isn’t just a reproductive issue. At its core is metabolic dysfunction: insulin resistance, adipose tissue inflammation, and hormonal disruption—all of which intersect closely with obesity. These biological drivers influence ovulation, fertility, mental health, metabolic health, and long-term risks like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, and MASLD.  In this episode of Scale Up Your Practice, we’re joined by Dr. Emilia Huvinen, Finnish gynecologist, researcher, and associate professor at the University of Helsinki, whose work focuses on the intersection of obesity and women’s health. Dr. Huvinen breaks down the biological roots of PCOS, the links with obesity, how stigma and bias shape care, and what evidence-based, compassionate management can look like. In this episode:  PCOS biology made clear: How insulin resistance, adipose tissue dysfunction, and hormonal shifts drive core symptoms — and why PCOS is fundamentally a metabolic condition. Explaining PCOS without blame: Approaches to help patients understand this condition without feelings of shame or blame. Evidence-based treatment options: From lifestyle support and metformin to hormonal therapy and obesity medications—and how to tailor care to the individual. Stigma, bias, and missed diagnoses: How weight bias delays recognition, affects fertility conversations, and shapes patient experiences—and how language can shift that. Team-based care in action: How primary care, gynecology, endocrinology, dermatology, and mental health providers can work together to support women with PCOS.Hope and emerging directions: Why early recognition matters, how treatment options are evolving, and what gives clinicians and patients reason for optimism.Additional resources:  Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guideline: https://utm.guru/ujnad  Free course: Beyond the Stereotypes: Delving Into The Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Science of Obesity: https://utm.guru/ujnag   Free course: Intro to Behaviour Change Counselling for Obesity: https://utm.guru/ujnai   Register now for the Canadian Obesity Summit 2026 Obesity Canada’s flagship scientific congress returns March 25–29, 2026 in Montréal. Join researchers, healthcare professionals, policy leaders, and people with lived experience for five days of learning, collaboration, and community. Early-bird registration is open until November 30, 2025.  Register today: https://utm.guru/ujnab  📩 Have a question or a topic you’d like us to cover? Email us at scaleuppod@obesitycanada.ca 🎧 Enjoying the podcast? Support us by: Sharing this episode with a colleague or friendSubscribing on your favourite podcast platformLeaving a review to help more listeners find the show

    54 min
  4. Multidisciplinary care in adult obesity management: Dr. Rishi Handa & Pharmacist Khalid Bhatti

    11/07/2025

    Multidisciplinary care in adult obesity management: Dr. Rishi Handa & Pharmacist Khalid Bhatti

    🎙️ This episode is sponsored. Obesity Canada received an unrestricted educational grant from Eli Lilly Canada to produce this episode. 🎙️ Multidisciplinary care can transform obesity management for patients — but what does it actually look like in practice? In this episode of Scale Up Your Practice, we sit down with Dr. Rishi Handa, internal medicine specialist, and pharmacist Khalid Bhatti, co-founders of Durham Care Clinic + Pharmacy in Oshawa, Ontario, a collaborative care model bringing physicians, pharmacists, and allied health professionals together to support patients living with obesity and related chronic diseases. From shared decision-making to the use of the Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines, this conversation explores how teamwork can improve outcomes, reduce bias, and make obesity care more connected, compassionate, and effective. In this episode: Building better systems of care: How Durham Care Clinic brought physicians, pharmacists, and dietitians, and other allied health professionals together to close care gaps and improve care coordination for patients living with obesity. From silos to teamwork: What multidisciplinary, patient-centred care looks like in practice—and how shared responsibility changes outcomes and experiences. Putting the guidelines to work: How the Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines can anchor care planning, communication, and collaboration across teams. Connecting chronic conditions: How a unified team approach supports patients managing obesity alongside diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Bias, trust, and collaboration: How working as a team helps identify and address weight bias in the system—improving empathy, communication, and care quality. Practical takeaways for clinicians: What any practice—large or small—can do to start integrating multidisciplinary principles and make obesity care more connected and compassionate. Additional resources: Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines: https://utm.guru/ujkVE  Durham Care Clinic + Pharmacy: https://utm.guru/ujkVF  Free courses from Obesity Canada: https://utm.guru/ujkVG  Don’t miss the Canadian Obesity Summit 2026 Obesity Canada’s flagship scientific congress returns March 25–29, 2026, in Montréal, Québec.It’s five days of learning, collaboration, and community—all centered on the theme: “Obesity Across the Lifespan: Connecting Research to Real-World Care.” ✨ Early bird registration is open until November 30, 2025. Learn more and register here → https://utm.guru/ujkVH 📩 Have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Email us at scaleuppod@obesitycanada.ca 🎧 Enjoying the podcast? ✅ Share this episode with a colleague or your care team ✅ Subscribe on your favourite podcast platform ✅ Leave a review to help more listeners discover the show Thanks for listening — and stay with us as we continue to scale up your practice.

    45 min
  5. Knee & hip replacement recommendations for people living with obesity with Dr. Harman Chaudhry

    10/23/2025

    Knee & hip replacement recommendations for people living with obesity with Dr. Harman Chaudhry

    Delays, denials, and BMI cut-offs have long shaped access to joint replacement surgeryfor people living with obesity.  Orthopaedic surgeon and steering committee member Dr. Harman Chaudhry joins us to unpack the new Canadian Orthopaedic Association recommendations for knee and hip replacements for people living with obesity. We cover what’s changed, why communication matters, and how clinicians and patients can navigate toward equitable, evidence-based surgical decisions. In this episode Reframing access to surgery: Why national recommendations were needed, how BMI cut-offs created inequities, and what’s changing with a more individualized, case-by-case approach Bias, communication, and patient trust: How stigma shows up in surgical care—and why language, empathy, and open dialogue can change both outcomes and experiences Balancing risk & benefit: What the evidence really says about outcomes for people living with obesity after hip and knee replacement, and how to guide risk-benefit conversations with patients Practical advocacy in action: Steps clinicians and patients can take to improve access—optimizing health, asking for second opinions, and ensuring no one leaves an appointment without a planLooking ahead: How system design, central intake models, and collaborative advocacy can build a more equitable path to joint replacement across Canada Additional resources Canadian Orthopedic Association: Recommendations on Elective Total Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery in People Living with Obesity https://utm.guru/ujhto  Announcement from Obesity Canada on the COA’s recommendations: https://utm.guru/ujhtp  Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guideline: https://utm.guru/ujhtq Explore our free, online education courses for healthcare professionals: https://utm.guru/ujhtr Don’t miss the Canadian Obesity Summit 2026 Obesity Canada’s flagship scientific congress returns March 25–29, 2026 in Montréal, Québec. Join researchers, healthcare professionals, and advocate voices to connect the latest science with real-world care. Submit your abstract by October 31, and secure your spot at the conference. Early bird registration is open now through November 30, 2025. Learn more and register: https://utm.guru/ujhts 📩 Questions or topic requests? Email us: scaleuppod@obesitycanada.ca 🎧 Enjoying the podcast? Support the show: Share this episode with a colleague or student Subscribe on your favourite podcast platform Leave a review to help others find the show Thanks for listening—and stay with us as we continue to scale up your practice.

    39 min
  6. Advocating for patients in obesity care with Dr. Ian Patton

    10/09/2025

    Advocating for patients in obesity care with Dr. Ian Patton

    🎙️ This episode is sponsored. Obesity Canada received an unrestricted educational grant from Eli Lilly Canada to produce this episode. 🎙️ Access to obesity treatment in Canada can feel like a maze—for both patients and healthcare professionals. In this episode of Scale Up Your Practice, we sit down with Dr. Ian Patton, Obesity Canada’s Director of Advocacy and Public Engagement, to talk about the barriers people face in accessing obesity care—and how clinicians and patients can work together to change that. From the everyday challenges of navigating authorizations and waitlists to the bigger system-level barriers, Ian shares practical strategies clinicians can use to support patients within the realities of our current healthcare system—while working toward a more equitable one. In this episode: Why access to evidence-based obesity care remains inconsistent across Canada How delays, denials, and system barriers affect patient motivation and health Practical steps clinicians can take to reduce friction and improve efficiency The power of communication, empathy, and trust in patient advocacy How peer support and communities like OC Connect empower patients What needs to change at a system level to make equitable care possible Additional resources: OC Connect patient community:https://utm.guru/ujesc  Private insurance appeal letter: https://utm.guru/ujesd  Workplace & employer resources: https://utm.guru/ujese  Tell your government representative to recognize obesity as a chronic disease: https://utm.guru/ujesf  The Patient-Physician Partnership in Advocacy: https://utm.guru/ujesg  Don’t miss the Canadian Obesity Summit 2026 Obesity Canada’s flagship scientific congress returns March 25–29, 2026, in Montréal, Québec. It’s where Canada’s obesity community—researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and lived experience advocates—comes together to share the latest science and advance care. ✨ Early bird registration is open through November 30, 2025.Register today: https://utm.guru/ujesh 📩 Have a question or a topic you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you! Email us at scaleuppod@obesitycanada.ca 🎧 Love what you’re learning? Here’s how you can support the podcast: ✅ Share this episode with a colleague or student ✅ Subscribe on your favourite podcast platform ✅ Leave a review to help more listeners find the show Thanks for tuning in—and stay with us as we continue to scale up your practice.

    43 min
  7. Behaviour change counselling in obesity & chronic disease management with Dr. Michael Vallis & Dr. Tiffany Shepherd

    09/25/2025

    Behaviour change counselling in obesity & chronic disease management with Dr. Michael Vallis & Dr. Tiffany Shepherd

    Behaviour change in obesity and chronic disease care is complex, relational, and happens far beyond the clinic visit—so our conversations with patients need to reflect that reality. In this episode of Scale Up Your Practice, we sit down with health psychologists Dr. Michael Vallis and Dr. Tiffany Shepherd to rethink how we teach behavioural change counselling skills. We explore the shift from transactional to relational care, the “Grand Apology” as a trust-building tool, and practical ways clinicians can co-create behavioural change with patients while navigating time and system constraints. In this episode: Why behavior change is a core pillar in the Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines Moving from control to collaboration: the relational model in practice Creating safe, efficient conversations that invite patient creativity and agency Team impact: how these skills strengthen inter-professional care and clinician confidence Building competencies over time: awareness → competence → confidence Additional resources: Learn more about the Advanced Obesity Counselling Certification program: https://utm.guru/ujbvU  Register for the November AOCC Cohort: https://utm.guru/ujbvV  Read the research on behavioural change counselling: https://utm.guru/ujbvW  Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines; Effective Psychological and Behavioural Change Interventions in Obesity Management: https://utm.guru/ujbvX  Don’t miss the Canadian Obesity Summit 2026 Obesity Canada’s flagship scientific congress returns March 25–29, 2026, in Montréal, Québec. It’s where Canada’s obesity community comes together — researchers, and healthcare professionals— to exchange ideas, share the latest science, and put evidence into practice. Register today: https://utm.guru/ujbvY  📩 Have a question or a topic you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you! Email us at scaleuppod@obesitycanada.ca 🎧 Love what you’re learning? Here’s how you can support the podcast: ✅ Share this episode with a colleague or student ✅ Subscribe on your favourite podcast platform ✅ Leave a review to help more listeners find the show Thanks for tuning in—and stay with us as we continue to scale up your practice.

    41 min
  8. Pediatric Obesity Care with Dr. Stasia Hadjiyannakis

    09/11/2025

    Pediatric Obesity Care with Dr. Stasia Hadjiyannakis

    🎙️ This episode is sponsored. Obesity Canada received an unrestricted educational grant from Eli Lilly Canada to produce this episode. 🎙️ Pediatric obesity care is complex, deeply personal, and involves more than just the child—it involves the whole family. In this episode of Scale Up Your Practice, we sit down with Dr. Stasia Hadjiyannakis, pediatric endocrinologist, clinician, researcher, and advocate, to explore what compassionate, evidence-based support for children, youth, and their families can look like. From reframing outdated assumptions to tackling bias, Dr. Hadjiyannakis shares her journey, insights, and vision for better pediatric care. In this episode: What inspired Dr. Hadjiyannakis to focus on pediatric obesity care The science of body weight regulation in children and youth Why stigma and bias are so damaging in pediatric care—and what to do differently The importance of listening, curiosity, and whole-family support How systemic gaps in education and care access continue to impact kids and families A hopeful look at what better care could mean for the next generation Additional resources: Canadian Pediatric Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines: https://utm.guru/ui7Ph  Edmonton Obesity Staging System for Pediatrics: https://utm.guru/ui7Pi   Free course: Intro to Pediatric Obesity: https://utm.guru/ui7Pj   Explore all of Obesity Canada’s education offerings: https://utm.guru/ui7Pk  Don’t miss the Canadian Obesity Summit 2026 Obesity Canada’s flagship scientific congress returns March 25–29, 2026, in Montréal, Québec. It’s where Canada’s obesity community comes together — researchers, and healthcare professionals— to exchange ideas, share the latest science, and put evidence into practice. Get the event details: https://utm.guru/ui7Pl    📩 Have a question or a topic you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you!Email us at scaleuppod@obesitycanada.ca 🎧 Love what you’re learning? Here’s how you can support the podcast: ✅ Share this episode with a colleague or student ✅ Subscribe on your favourite podcast platform ✅ Leave a review to help more listeners find the show Thanks for tuning in—and stay with us as we continue to scale up your practice.

    45 min
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About

Tune into Scale Up Your Practice, Obesity Canada’s podcast for healthcare professionals. Hosted by Dr. Roshan Abraham and Michelle McMillan, each episode dives into practical, evidence-informed conversations about obesity care—covering topics like weight stigma, patient-centered approaches, and the connection between obesity and other health conditions. You’ll hear expert perspectives, real-world experiences, and insights to help you provide better, more compassionate care. Listen now and scale up your practice. 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

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