Second Annual Louisiana Obesity Society Conference Held in New Orleans

The Louisiana Obesity Society and the Louisiana Chapter of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery hosted the 2024 Louisiana Obesity Conference on Saturday, Aug. 10, in New Orleans at the Renaissance Arts Hotel. Keynote speakers for the event included a video message from Senator Bill Cassidy, MD; State Senator Royce Duplessis; Dr. Jamy Ard, President of The Obesity Society; and Dr. Ann Rogers, President-Elect of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

The conference was filled with informative presentations and breakout sessions throughout the day, where the latest advances and challenges facing the field were shared. Louisiana Obesity Society President Dr. Philip Schauer, director of the Metamor Institute and professor of metabolic surgery at Pennington Biomedical, and LA-ASMBS President Dr. Shauna Levy welcomed everyone to the conference and kicked off the meeting with teh President's Welcome.

Panel discussions were held throughout the day on important topics such as access to obesity treatments; the Treat and Reduce Obesity, or TROA, act; and the pros and cons of GLP1 agents. Dr. Jamy Ard and Dr. Ann Rogers presented what the Obesity Society and ASMBS are doing fro obesity advocacy.

"It's important for health care professionals and researchers in the state to get together annually to discuss access, treatments and developments related to obesity and chronic disease, and this year's event is bringing together some of the most prominent researchers and physicians in the field today," said Dr. John Kirwan, Pennington Biomedical Executive Director.

The Louisiana Obesity Society was created to support providers treating obesity through education and networking. The society will also advocate for health insurance coverage for evidenced-based, comprehensive obesity care. The inaugural Louisiana Obesity Society Conference and official launch of the Louisiana Obesity Society took place in Augusts 2023 in New Orleans.

Those interested in membership and attending the conference can sign up for both at www.louisianaobesitysociety.org. Annual dues are $100 for physicians and $50 for non-physicians.

About the Pennington Biomedical Research Center

The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is at the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the triggers of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. The Center conducts basic, clinical, and population research, and is a campus of the LSU System. The research enterprise at Pennington Biomedical includes over 530 employees within a network of 44 clinics and research laboratories, and 13 highly specialized core service facilities. Its scientists and physician/scientists are supported by research trainees, lab technicians, nurses, dietitians, and other support personnel. Pennington Biomedical is a state-of-the-art research facility on a 222-acre campus in Baton Rouge. For more information, see www.pbrc.edu.

Provided by Louisiana State University