Obesity Medicine

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is affecting teenagers at an alarming rate. Lifestyle changes are paramount in an environment of chronic caloric surplus.

Once-weekly exenatide, the recently approved GLP-1 receptor agonist, may help improve treatment adherence and outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes.

For most patients who have had low back pain for less than 6 weeks, there is little need for imaging studies.

A genetic analysis questions the benefits of raising HDL-C levels to reduce the risk of MI and of the value of HDL-C as a surrogate marker of risk.

The 2012 ADA/EASD Position Statement prescribes patient-centered care for type 2 diabetes management using lifestyle change, metformin, DPP-4Is, GLP-1 RAs.

New research finds that type 2 diabetes mellitus, once considered a disease of “adult onset,” is highly resistant to treatment in overweight American youths-a group succumbing to the disorder at an alarming rate. Here, a comment on the cultural norms that make choosing health a daily battle.

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) shares clinical symptoms with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) such as daytime sleepiness, headaches, and memory problems. Both the symptoms and their sequelae, however, can be much more severe in OHS. Here, guidance on what to look for and how to manage OHS.

Would you treat the elevated A1C aggressively-and what would your target level be? Would you consider statins? Dr Shahady invites your insights.

Are these findings another green light for dark chocolate? Some experts say “yes” as they also point to a recommended upper daily “dose.” What does this new research add to the current data on the health benefits of the flavinoid-rich sweet? Drs Payal Kohli and Christopher Cannon discuss study results and what you should tell your patients.

Bariatric surgery nearly cures type 2 diabetes-at least that’s what results of a new study, presented at the recent ACC meeting, seem to imply.

It’s a known fact that regular consumption of red meat increases the risk of many chronic diseases-including diabetes, coronary heart disease, and cancer. Now, data from 2 large, long-term studies link daily consumption of red meat with death from cardiovascular disease and cancer. Drs Kohli and Cannon discuss what to tell your patients.

A 92-year-old woman presented with a 6-month history of progressively worsening fatigue, weight loss, generalized bone pain, and dyspnea on exertion. A skeletal survey found lytic lesions in the pelvis, sacrum, and calvarium (shown here).

A 57-year-old obese woman with known and poorly controlled type 2 diabetes presented with the sudden onset of “yellow bumps all over.” Representative lesions on the back and elbows are shown.

Diagnostic colonoscopy revealed innumerable polyps carpeting the mucosa from the rectum to the cecum. Endoscopic findings and family history were most consistent with familial adenomatous polyposis.

The husband of this 50-year-old obese woman noted that her back was discolored. Review of past medical history disclosed long-standing low back pain from partially herniated vertebral disks.

Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages is known to cause weight gain and heightens the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Here to put the issue into perspective are Drs Christopher Cannon and Payal Kohli.

A 28-year-old woman presents with a 4-month history of diarrhea and a 15-lb weight loss. She reports starting “another new diet” a few months ago but was in good health until these symptoms began. There is no family history of GI disease and no sick contacts. She denies recent travel.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy may develop in patients who have normal or impaired fasting blood glucose or impaired glucose tolerance, precursors to frank diabetes.

A 61-year-old obese, man with type 2 diabetes presented with the gradual onset of a mildly tender lesion on the dorsum of the right arm.

Do you consider an LDL of 100 and a non-HDL of 150 significant? What is your diagnosis? Would you consider medication in addition to recommending lifestyle changes? Answers to these quiz questions here.

A 47-year-old man sees you for a check-up. He complains only of low energy and attributes it to recent weight gain. But, there is much more.

Geriatric anorexia might be a sign of illness-or simple oral discomfort

Patients with IBD may have discomfort for 3 to 5 years before a diagnosis is made. Many are treated unsuccessfully with antibiotics, anti-spasmodics, or narcotics. Here, read 5 important tips, plus a bonus point, to help streamline diagnosis and management.

In his second podcast, Dr Louis Kuritzky discusses the classes of incretin-based therapies now available for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Would you worry about neoplastic transformation of these lesions, or would your concerns be focused more specifically on their midline location? If so, why? Would you pursue further investigation? We invite your comments. Click here for more details.

Congenital hairy nevi in this location are often associated with-and act as signs of-abnormalities of the vertebrae, spinal cord or both.

Louis Kuritzky, MD, talks about this relatively new treatment option.