Journal of Obesity & Eating Disorders

Diversity issues in bariatric surgery

7^th European Congress on Obesity and Eating Disorder
April 12-13, 2018 Amsterdam, Netherlands

Paul Davidson

Harvard Medical School, USA

Keynote: J Obes Eat Disord

DOI: 10.21767/2471-8203-C1-007

Abstract

The roots of bariatric surgery are highly international, and as the field grows, providers are entrusted with evaluating and treating increasingly diverse clients. There is an increasing body of literature which examines ethnic diversity in the bariatric field and specific clinical issues which arise in treating specific groups, such as Hispanics or individuals of African ancestry. Such broadening of the surgical population is exciting, but raises specific challenges. This talk will explore international trends in bariatric surgery, with an emphasis on shifts in surgical choice and population dynamics. With a firm grounding in where the field is heading, issues related to who considers surgical intervention will be addressed. Next, disparities seen within the field regarding patient selection will be discussed. Racial differences in surgical outcomes will be presented along with some suggested ways to approach this from a treatment perspective. A key piece of this includes providing culturally competent care. When dealing with obesity, special attention needs to be paid to ethnic food preferences as well as specific religious factors which impact eating habits. To illustrate the objectives, case examples will be presented and the audience would be invited to share their own experiences involving diversity, as part of a topical discussion. Enhancing skills in approaching cultural issues is expected to improve clinical practice as well as a patient�?¢�?�?�?�?s sense of being understood by providers.

Biography

Paul Davidson serves as the Director of Behavioural Services at the Center for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He obtained a BA in Psychology from Brandeis University and earned his PhD in Clinical Psychology at Brigham Young University. He completed an Adult Internship and Child/Adolescent Fellowship at the Cambridge Hospital/Harvard Medical School. He serves as the Chair of the Integrated Health Support Group Committee for ASMBS. He is an Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, has spoken internationally about bariatric topics. He has published in numerous journals, is an Associate Editor for the Obesity Surgery journal and a Reviewer for Surgery for Obesity and Related Disorders. He is passionate about his commitment to his patients, integrative care, and advancing behavioural medicine research.
Email:pdavidson@bwh.harvard.edu