Obesity CHRONICles

Novo Nordisk
  • 5.0 (3)
  • SCIENCE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Is obesity a disease or a choice? Why is weight loss so difficult to maintain? What roles do hormones play within the gut-brain axis in the pathophysiology of obesity? What are the comorbidities associated with obesity? And why does the obesity epidemic continue to grow despite a wealth of information? Join series host Dr Robert Kushner, Medical Director of the Center for Lifestyle Medicine at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, as he interviews fellow experts in the field of obesity on how they tackle everyday challenges when treating patients with obesity and shares advice on how clinicians can optimize patient outcomes in this ever-evolving disease area.

Episodes

  1. 07/11/2025

    The Weight of Words: Impactful Communication in Obesity Care

    Join experts in obesity, Robert Kushner, MD, Professor of Medicine and Medical Education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, Michael Knight, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Attending Physician in the Weight Management Clinic at the GW Medical Faculty Associates in Washington, DC, and Amanda Velazquez, MD, Assistant Professor and Director of Obesity Medicine at Cedars-Sinai, Surgery in Los Angeles, California, as they discuss impactful communication for patients with obesity. The panel will explore the challenges health care professionals may face when communicating with patients with obesity and how these challenges may hinder access to obesity care. The speakers will also emphasize the importance of patient-centered care in obesity management, stressing the need to understand the patient’s weight and health journey, tailor communication strategies, and empower patients to achieve their goals. This program is intended for clinicians. The information presented is aligned with the views and opinions of the speakers and is sponsored by Novo Nordisk. This podcast is not to be used as medical advice and is intended for educational purposes only. The moderator and expert discussants were compensated by Novo Nordisk for their participation in this podcast. Faculty Presenters: Robert Kushner, MD Professor, Departments of Medicine and Medical Education Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL Amanda Velazquez, MD, DABOM Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery Director of Obesity Medicine Center for Weight Management and Metabolic Health Cedars Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA Michael Knight, MD, MSHP, FACP, DABOM Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine The George Washington University Washington, DC

    40 min

  2. 07/11/2025

    Moving Toward Better Metrics: Can We Do Better Than BMI?

    Join panelists Robert Kushner, MD, Professor of Medicine and Medical Education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, Jamy Ard, MD, Professor of Epidemiology and Prevention at Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Jaime Almandoz, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, as they discuss the role of body mass index (BMI) as a screening for obesity, along with its strengths and limitations. Our panelists also reviewed other anthropometric measurements to further assess body composition and potential health risks. The conversation extends to emerging tools like the waist-height ratio and bioimpedance, and how these assessments may help provide a more comprehensive understanding of the patient's individual weight and health. This program is intended for clinicians. The information presented is aligned with the views and opinions of the speakers and is sponsored by Novo Nordisk. This podcast is not to be used as medical advice and is intended for educational purposes only. The moderator and expert discussants were compensated by Novo Nordisk for their participation in this podcast. Faculty Presenters: Robert Kushner, MD Professor, Departments of Medicine and Medical Education Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL Jamy Ard, MD, FTOS Professor, Departments of Epidemiology & Prevention and Internal Medicine Vice Dean for Clinical Research Wake Forest University School of Medicine Winston-Salem, NC Jaime Almandoz, MD, MBA, MRCPI, FTOS Associate Professor of Internal Medicine Medical Director of Weight Wellness Program University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX

    22 min

  3. 07/11/2025

    Living with the Weight of the World: A Personal Journey with Obesity

    Join experts in obesity, Robert Kushner, MD, Professor of Medicine and Medical Education at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern Medicine, in Chicago, Illinois, Angela Golden, Family Nurse Practitioner, and the owner and sole provider at NP From Home and NP Obesity Treatment Clinic, Flagstaff, Arizona, and Cally Smith, Nurse Practitioner, and the owner and founder of Advanced Medical Wellness, Chandler, Arizona, as they discuss obesity from a patient’s perspective. The panel will review the various stages of a patient’s weight management journey, from pre-diagnosis to ongoing care, and provide unique insights, both as patients undergoing obesity care and health care professionals specializing in obesity treatment. This program is intended for clinicians. The information presented is aligned with the views and opinions of the speakers and is sponsored by Novo Nordisk. This podcast is not to be used as medical advice and is intended for educational purposes only.   The moderator and expert discussants were compensated by Novo Nordisk for their participation in this podcast. Faculty Presenters: Robert Kushner, MD Professor, Departments of Medicine and Medical Education Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL Angie Golden, DNP, FNP-C, FAANP, FOMA, FTOS CEO NP from Home, LLC, CCO NP Obesity Treatment Center NP Obesity Treatment Clinic and NP from Home Flagstaff, AZ Cally Smith, APRN, FNP-C Nurse Practitioner Owner and Founder of Advanced Medical Wellness Advanced Medical Wellness Chandler, AZ

    35 min

  4. 12/20/2024

    Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Obesity

    Join obesity experts, Robert Kushner, Professor of Medicine and Medical Education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern Medicine, in Chicago, Rameck Hunt, Medical Director at Princeton Medicine Weight Management Program, Internal Medicine Faculty at Penn Medicine, Princeton Medicine Physicians, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and Michael Knight, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Attending Physician in the Weight Management Clinic at the GW Medical Faculty Associates, as they discuss the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on patients with obesity. They will define the different SDOH domains, discuss specific examples of SDOH they’ve encountered within each of these domains, and discuss how to take these into account when managing patients with obesity. This program is intended for clinicians in the US only. The information presented is aligned with the views and opinions of the speakers and is sponsored by Novo Nordisk. This podcast is not to be used as medical advice and is intended for educational purposes only. Faculty Presenters: Robert Kushner, MD Professor, Departments of Medicine and Medical Education Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL Rameck Hunt, MD Medical Director at Princeton Medicine Weight Management Program Internal Medicine Faculty at Penn Medicine Princeton Medicine Physicians Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Princeton, NJ Michael Knight, MD Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences Attending Physician in the Weight Management Clinic at the GW Medical Faculty Associates Washington, DC

    25 min

  5. 12/20/2024

    Obesity Unveiled: A Complex Disease With Associated Comorbidities

    Join experts in obesity, Dr Robert Kushner (Professor of Medicine and Medical Education at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern Medicine, in Chicago, IL), Dr Eden Miller (Chief Executive Officer of Diabetes and Obesity Care and Diplomat of the American Board of Obesity Medicine in Bend, OR), and Dr Jaime Almandoz (Associate Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center’s Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, and the Assistant Medical Director of the UTSW Clinical Research Unit in the Center for Translational Medicine in Dallas, TX), as they discuss the complex interactions between various factors that lead to obesity, a chronic, progressive disease with underlying pathophysiology. The panel will also review the mechanisms by which obesity may increase the risk of cardiometabolic multimorbidity, including cardiovascular disease, and highlight residual CV risk in patients with obesity and CVD. This program is intended for clinicians in the US only. The information presented is aligned with the views and opinions of the speakers and is sponsored by Novo Nordisk. This podcast is not to be used as medical advice and is intended for educational purposes only. Faculty Presenters: Robert Kushner, MD Professor, Departments of Medicine and Medical Education Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL Eden Miller, MD Chief Executive Officer of Diabetes and Obesity Care Diplomat of the American Board of Obesity Medicine Bend, OR Jaime Almandoz, MD Associate Professor at University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center’s Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology Assistant Medical Director of the UTSW Clinical Research Unit in the Center for Translational Medicine Dallas, TX

    18 min

  6. 12/20/2024

    Building Bridges: Fostering Positive Dialogue About Adolescent Obesity

    Join experts in obesity, Dr Robert Kushner, Professor of Medicine and Medical Education at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, IL; Dr Aaron Kelly, Co-director of the Center for Pediatric Obesity Medicine in Minneapolis, MN, and Minnesota American Legion and Auxiliary Chair in Children’s Health; and Dr Edmond Wickham, also known as Trey, faculty member and a professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Virginia Commonwealth University and Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, as they discuss the difficulties of navigating the terrain of adolescent obesity. The panel will explore the complexities of adolescent obesity, unpacking the stigma, the multifactorial causes, and weight- related comorbidities adolescents might face. They will discuss the essential role health care professionals play in managing and supporting adolescents with obesity and collaborating with families to develop individualized weight-management strategies. This program is intended for clinicians in the US only. The information presented is aligned with the views and opinions of the speakers and is sponsored by Novo Nordisk. This podcast is not to be used as medical advice and is intended for educational purposes only. Faculty Presenters: Robert Kushner, MD Professor of Medicine and Medical Education Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern Medicine Chicago, IL Aaron Kelly, PhD Co-director of the Center for Pediatric Obesity Medicine Minnesota American Legion and Auxiliary Chair in Children’s Health Minneapolis, MN Edmond “Trey” Wickham, MD Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Virginia Commonwealth University Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU  Richmond, VA

    27 min

  7. 06/13/2024

    A Story of 2 Diseases: Obesity And CVD

    What is the risk of developing cardiovascular disease if you have obesity? Join experts in obesity, Dr Robert Kushner (Professor of Medicine at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and Director of the Center for Lifestyle Medicine at Northwestern Medicine, in Chicago)and Dr Michael Blaha (Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, and Director of Clinical Research, and Director at the Cardiometabolic Clinic at the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease), as they discuss the elevated cardiovascular risk associated with obesity and overweight. What is the relationship between obesity and cardiovascular disease? How can you measure cardiovascular risk? What is the role of inflammation and “sick fat” cells in this process? This panel will also discuss the importance of treating patients with obesity as well as addressing long term CV risk in these patients and share tips on motivating your patients with obesity to think about their health comprehensively. This program is intended for clinicians. The information presented is aligned with the views and opinions of the speakers and is sponsored by Novo Nordisk. This podcast is not to be used as medical advice and is intended for educational purposes only. Faculty Presenters: Bob Kushner, MD Professor, Departments of Medicine and Medical Education Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL Michael Blaha, MD, MPH Professor of Cardiology and Epidemiology, Director of Clinical Research Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Baltimore, MD

    21 min

  8. 01/08/2024

    Obesity: A Choice or a Disease?

    Is obesity a choice or a disease? Join experts in obesity Dr Robert Kushner (Professor of Medicine at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and Director of the Center for Lifestyle Medicine at Northwestern Medicine, in Chicago), Dr Louis Aronne (Professor of Metabolic Research and Director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center, in the Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism at Weill Cornell Medicine, in New York City), and Dr Jamy Ard (Professor of Epidemiology and Prevention at Wake Forest School of Medicine and Co-Director of the Wake Forest Baptist Health Weight Management Center) as they raise awareness about obesity as a chronic, progressive disease with biological and environmental components. The podcast will focus on how obesity is misunderstood and often stigmatized as a choice or a lack of willpower instead of a disease; and where lack of education and bias can lead to underdiagnosis and under management of obesity. The panel will also discuss the weight-related comorbidities, such as cardiometabolic multimorbidities, and will share tips on how to engage your patients with obesity to start thinking about their weight management journey. This program is intended for clinicians. The information presented is aligned with the views and opinions of the speakers and is sponsored by Novo Nordisk. This podcast is not to be used as medical advice and is intended for educational purposes only. Faculty Presenters: Robert Kushner, MD Professor, Departments of Medicine and Medical Education Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL Jamy Ard, MD Professor Wake Forest School of Medicine Winston-Salem, NC Louis Aronne, MD, FACP, DABOM Sanford I. Weill Professor of Metabolic Research New York, NY

    37 min

  9. 01/08/2024

    Obesity: A Disease of Abnormal Physiology

    What is the pathophysiology of obesity? What roles do appetite hormones in the gut-brain axis play in energy metabolism and eating behavior? Join experts in obesity, Robert Kushner, MD (Professor of Medicine at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and Medical Director of the Center for Lifestyle Medicine at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago), Leigh Perreault, MD (Endocrinologist and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado), and Robert Busch, MD (Endocrinologist and Director of Clinical Research at the Community Endocrine Group, Albany Medical College), as they discuss the pathophysiology of obesity, with a focus on how dysfunctional adipose tissue may lead to metabolic complications, as well as a discussion on the role of the gut-brain axis in regulating appetite and eating behavior. This program is intended for clinicians. The information presented is aligned with the views and opinions of the speakers and is sponsored by Novo Nordisk. This podcast is not to be used as medical advice and is intended for educational purposes only. Faculty Presenters: Robert Kushner, MD Professor, Departments of Medicine and Medical Education Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL Robert Busch, MD Director of Clinical Reserach Albany Med: Community Endocrine Group Albany, NY Leigh Perreault, MD Associate Professor of Medicine University of Colorado Aurora, CO

    29 min

  10. 01/08/2024

    Obesity’s Hidden Hurdle: The Science Behind Metabolic Adaptation

    Join experts in obesity: Dr Robert Kushner (Professor of Medicine at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and Director of the Center for Lifestyle Medicine at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago), Dr Eric Ravussin (Associate Executive Director at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana), and Dr Jeffrey Sicat, (Endocrinology Physician and Founder of  Virginia Weight and Wellness medical practice in Richmond, Virginia) as they discuss the science behind metabolic adaption and why this makes weight loss so difficult to maintain over time. The panel will also discuss the essential role healthcare professionals play by providing education and support to their patients with obesity and working with their patients to develop a personalized weight management plan. This program is intended for clinicians. The information presented is aligned with the views and opinions of the speakers and is sponsored by Novo Nordisk. This podcast is not to be used as medical advice and is intended for educational purposes only. Faculty Presenters: Robert Kushner, MD Professor, Departments of Medicine and Medical Education Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL Eric Ravussin, PhD Boyd Professor and Associate Executive Director- Clinical Science Pennington Biomedical Research Center Baton Rouge, LA Jeffrey Sicat, MD, FACE Founder and Medical Director Virginia Weight and Wellness Glen Allen, VA

    45 min
  • 10 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Is obesity a disease or a choice? Why is weight loss so difficult to maintain? What roles do hormones play within the gut-brain axis in the pathophysiology of obesity? What are the comorbidities associated with obesity? And why does the obesity epidemic continue to grow despite a wealth of information? Join series host Dr Robert Kushner, Medical Director of the Center for Lifestyle Medicine at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, as he interviews fellow experts in the field of obesity on how they tackle everyday challenges when treating patients with obesity and shares advice on how clinicians can optimize patient outcomes in this ever-evolving disease area.

Information

  • Creator
    Novo Nordisk
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Novo Nordisk
  • Show Website
    Obesity CHRONICles