Obesity and Medications
This Course considers how medications can contribute to weight gain and obesity, and the vicious cycle that exists with obesity being a major risk factor for some chronic diseases, treating these diseases, and managing the side effects of the medicines used in treatment. Obesity is a highly sensitive issue that health professionals may not feel comfortable addressing. So how do you approach this issue with your patients?
Identify
Identify the prevalence of the obesity epidemic in Australia in order to enhance delivery of sensitive and appropriate careCorrelate
Correlate obesity with co-morbid conditions to improve patient outcomes through the implementation of weight reduction strategiesUse
Use your understanding of specific medicines that cause weight gain in order to improve patient’s quality of life by managing the side effects of these medicinesLink
Link alternative therapies for weight reduction with education strategies to improve patient outcomes through effective weight managementEducator
Jenny Gowan
Jenny, a practicing pharmacist, is a teaching associate at Monash University, Melbourne. She is a member of the PSA Branch committee, the Expert Group for Therapeutic Guidelines – Respiratory, an editorial board member of AUS-DI, SHPA "Don’t Rush to Crush", and the Guidelines Committee for the Australian Asthma Handbook (AAH). Jenny is an accredited consultant pharmacist who conducts her own company, which focuses on medication reviews in the home and aged care facilities, plus education, writing, training, and consultation. Jenny works regularly in community pharmacy plus sessions in a GP clinic at a Community Health Centre. She has published over 350 educational articles. Jenny has presented talks at many Australian and international conferences to GPs, nurse practitioners, nurses, podiatrists, pharmacists, and other health professionals. In 2013, she was awarded the Australian Pharmacist of the Year by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and, in 2016, the AACP-MIMs Australian Consultant Pharmacist of the Year.
Comments
Course Overview
Topics include:
- Obesity in Australia
- Disease states affected by obesity
- Medicines
- Strategies for weight reduction
Target audience
All health professionals, but especially nurses, enrolled nurses, nurse practitioners, and diabetes educators, who may work more closely with administration of medication that can cause weight gain, as well as patients that may be obese.
Purpose
Provide education about the pathogenesis of obesity and how medications can contribute to this condition in order to assist patients to obtain and maintain optimum weight health.
Need
Around 68% of Australian adults are overweight or obese, and rates of obesity continue to rise in Australia. Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, some musculoskeletal conditions, and some cancers. As the level of excess weight increases, so too does the risk of developing these conditions. In addition, being overweight can hamper the ability to control or manage chronic disorders. Medicines can contribute to both weight reduction and weight gain. Greater awareness of medicines that adversely affect a healthy weight – especially those used in prevalent co-morbid conditions – will assist health professionals to implement weight management strategies and better educate patients to manage the side effects of these medicines. A team approach is needed to assist and encourage patients to maintain a healthy weight.
Health professionals in Australia that are registered with AHPRA are required to obtain continuing professional development (CPD) hours/points each year that relates to their context of practice, in order to comply with mandatory regulatory requirements
