Obesity ― The Medical Practitioner's Essential Guide

This textbook translates the newest and latest science and research about obesity in an effort to change the mindset and educate all medical practitioners who see and treat any obese patient for any reason. This textbook will also be an invaluable, easy-to-use reference manual for any practitioner who needs current, critical, specific advice for the immediate management of any obese patient. Finally, this textbook will propose a straightforward, easily implemented system of care via specific steps that can be followed by any front line provider. This book provides the reader with a specific obesity screening process they can implement within the office so that patients are treated at all times with respect and dignity. It will allow the physician to engage their patients in more effective discussion and action. The systematic approach outlined in this book, with graded interventions will allow the physician to make significant progress in not only the obesity that affects the patient but the related diseases. This book establishes a plan that can be implemented within their practice setting using virtually the tools already available and can change the patient experience and economics of treating patients in this setting. The text provides specific case studies to help the efforts of staff on representative patient problems and can be used as a teaching tool within the clinical structure.

As a practicing surgeon, dedicated researcher, author and medical school professor, Dr. Blackstone is recognized as a leading expert in the medical and surgical treatment of obesity, metabolic disease, and obesity-related diseases. She has performed more than 5,000 surgeries in the 13 years since she established the original Scottsdale Bariatric Center, one of the first institutions in the U.S. to be nationally accredited as a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. As Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Dr. Blackstone has over the past years established a didactic “obesity course” for second year medical students. She also established clinical practice model rotations in obesity medicine for third and fourth year medical students and family practice residents.