In this episode, host Eamon Keogh talks with Professor Donal O’Shea, HSE Clinical Lead, who takes us through the complexities of obesity as a chronic disease. He emphasises the need for empathy and a shift in perception towards individuals with obesity and highlights the connection between obesity and over 200 conditions, advocating for a shift in focus towards treating obesity itself to prevent these complications. Donal also talks about the importance of language and communication in healthcare., the way we talk about obesity can either perpetuate stigma or foster support. He goes on to discuss the emergence of new treatments for obesity, based on hormones and gut mechanisms that offer significant benefits in terms of health improvement and weight loss.

For obesity support information visit www.icpobesity.org or if you’d like to read more on HSE Model of Care for the Management of Overweight and Obesity visit https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/cspd/ncps/obesity/model-of-care/.

To get in touch with the podcast email Healthandwellbeing.communication@hse.ie

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