Oct. 01--When it comes to taking off the pounds, even small steps toward a healthier
lifestyle can make a big difference.
That was one of the messages at a symposium Thursday that attracted more
than 100 health care professionals from across the region to discuss the
dangers of obesity and how to inspire patients -- and each other -- to get
healthy.
Held at WVIA's studio in Pittston, the discussion featured presentations
by six local doctors and a registered dietitian about the dangers of obesity,
which is linked to heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and other serious
health problems.
In Pennsylvania, 64.4 percent of adults are overweight or obese,
according to data from the Centers for Disease Control.
Before presenting information Thursday, Mercy Hospital cardiologist W.
David FitzPatrick, M.D., said bringing health care professionals together to
learn more about how obesity affects health is extremely important.
"Addressing obesity is the single most important health initiative right
now," Dr. FitzPatrick said. "It's a problem of our current, modern society."
People who want to lose weight need only follow two rules: eat less and
exercise more.
But experts at Thursday's symposium agreed that putting it into practice
is a lot more difficult.
"We all have to lose weight, we all have to eat healthy, but at the end
of the day, what does that mean?" said registered dietitian Donna Scott. "You
have to take it one step at a time ... because if it doesn't fit your
lifestyle, you're not going to do it."
Janet Townsend, M.D., the founding chairwoman of Family Medicine and
Community Health at Commonwealth Medical College, told doctors, nurses and
other health care workers that they should strive to be role models for
patients and advocates in the community.
She also said helping patients set modest goals and even writing out
"exercise prescriptions" that include frequency and types of activity can help
patients get started and stick with it.
Other presenters at Thursday's symposium included Russell F. Stahl, M.D.,
the chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Community Medical Center; Stephen J.
Voyce, M.D., chief of cardiology at Moses Taylor Hospital; and Jila
Kaberi-Otarod, M.D., internal medicine at CMC.
Contact the writer: enissley@timesshamrock.com
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