In-Congress Workshop 21 - Providing Evidence-based Assessment and Treatment of Patients with Severe Obesity Across Settings

The primary goal of this workshop is to provide the education needed for clinicians to competently assess and treat patients with severe obesity across settings at a time when the landscape of obesity medicine is rapidly shifting. Patients presenting across various behavioral health settings require consideration for the unique experiences and contributing factors that impact physical and mental health. Some of the psychosocial challenges that may present include disordered eating, body image concerns, behavioral changes, depression, management of physical health diagnoses, chronic pain, and impaired sleep, among others. In addition, patients with severe obesity often experience years of negative messages and stigma from broader society, healthcare providers, friends, and family with devastating interacting physical and mental health impacts. Behavioral health providers play an important role in assessment and treatment of severe obesity and comorbid psychosocial considerations, across diverse settings including primary care, bariatric surgery and medical weight management, pain management, private practice, rehabilitation, and sleep disorder clinics. The explosion in excitement about and media attention surrounding the use of anti-obesity medications (i.e., GLP-1s) contributes to the growing need for behavioral health providers to receive specialized training in providing appropriate care, particularly given the negative impacts of weight stigma. This workshop will cover the following elements: 1) Introduction to Biopsychosocial Factors in Severe Obesity across Settings (Etiology, Treatment Approaches, Surgical Procedures), 2) Role of Psychologists in Assessment and Treatment, and 3) Multicultural, Ethical, and Telehealth Considerations.