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Evaluation

Scientific Assembly

Track Session

Session: Session 301

Severe Obesity, Populations, and Patients: What Is the Emergency Physician's Role? How Can We Help?

Wednesday, April 9, 2025
8:30am – 8:50am ET
Location: Trade - Lobby Level
CE: 0.25 CME Credit
Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Recorded Session
Disclosure(s):
Mary E. McLean, MD, FAAEM: No financial relationships to disclose
In the U.S., the obesity rate is 42%, with 10% meeting criteria for severe obesity. Emergency physicians want to help but face challenges due to inadequate research, resources, and consensus on their role addressing this public health issue. Significant physiologic differences in patients with obesity complicate identification of critical abnormalities. This session will use all available evidence to address social and medical aspects of obesity care, targeting stigma, social challenges, and implicit bias in medicine and society. It will outline a framework for clinicians to identify their own implicit weight bias and mitigate harm. It will also cover critical care considerations, including ABC management, pharmacotherapy adjustments, procedural protocols, and expected versus abnormal findings in the ED.

Learning Objectives:

  • Examine social considerations of caring for patients with obesity, including identifying personal implicit bias, mitigating harm, and exploring the emergency physician's role in caring for individuals and the greater population.
  • Describe the complex physiologic differences that come with increased BMI, and use this knowledge to establish the most prudent medical workup interpretation practices for critically ill patients with severe obesity.
  • Identify nuances in pharmacokinetics, the heightened risk of procedural complications, and the need for integrating critical adjustments into ED treatment protocols for critically ill patients with severe obesity.