Across 8 episodes of our debut podcast series Unlearn to Learn, we’ve established that obesity is nothing if not a complex disease. Studies have shown that obesity is multifactorial and everything from socio-economic factors to poor mental health can contribute to the increase in cases over the years.    With its pinpoint precision and set of diagnostic tools, modern technology has allowed researchers to explore how genetics play a role in the cause of obesity, advancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of weight gain and regulation tenfold.    In this episode ..read more

Behavioural modification and lifestyle adjustments are the first step in treating obesity. Whilst these are important in treating obesity, it is difficult to achieve or sustain the process of weight loss, especially long-term through these alone.    Pharmacotherapy has quickly surfaced as an alternative therapeutic approach to intensive lifestyle intervention; essentially bridging the gap between behaviour changes and more intense treatment such as surgery.   In this episode of Unlearn to Learn, we’ll be delving into the world of Pharmacotherapy with Dr Caroline Apovian. Carolin ..read more

In today’s society, we’ve cultivated an ethos of instant gratification. Life is fast-paced. The role that nutrition plays in both preventing and treating obesity is crucial. Nutrition is a critical part of both health and development. Better diet and nutrition have shown to improve health, immune systems, lead to less lethargy, and more consistent energy levels and life longevity.  Whilst the causes of obesity are varied and involve a complex interplay between dietary factors and various internal genetics and external exposures, the role of nutrition is key not only for obesity but for ou ..read more

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the health of patients living with obesity. Two national lockdowns in 18 months saw obesity rates increase. Was it due to the impact on people’s mental health? In this episode, Alexander is joined by Professor Donna Ryan, Professor Emeritus at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to answer this question and more. Professor Ryan explores the challenges of ‘long COVID’ in relation to obesity, explains why vaccines are crucial in providing protection, and provides counsel to some common misconceptions around COVID and o ..read more

Unlearn to Learn is back! We rejoin the series with episode 4, focusing on bariatric surgery; why and when it’s necessary, what the procedure involves and what patients can expect following surgery. To discuss this and more, Alexander is joined by Dr Lilian Kow. Dr Kow is an Associate Professor and the Clinical Director of Gastrointestinal surgery at Flinders University in South Australia.    Bariatric surgery is a complex procedure to treat a complex disease. Dr Kow has visited bariatric clinics all over the world and advised and trained surgeons in the treatment and support of pati ..read more

Across the first 2 episodes of Unlearn to Learn, we were joined by healthcare professionals from the US and Canada. In this episode, we shift the format slightly, to a discussion between a specialist and a patient, to hear how the treatment of obesity impacts on mental wellbeing. We’ll be joined by Professor Carel Le Roux from the University College Dublin, and Wendy Reaser, a patient living with obesity from Saskatchewan, Canada. Carel is Director of the Metabolic Medicine Group. He obtained his PhD from Imperial College London, and then moved to University College Dublin as Chair in Experime ..read more

Welcome to episode 2. The episode focuses on the variations of obesity across different ethnic groups - weight stigma and attitudes towards obesity vary greatly across cultures. To discuss this and more, Alexander is joined by Dr Fatima Stanford. Dr Stanford is an obesity medicine physician scientist, educator, and policy maker at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. As well as analysing and examining the myriad cultural differences relating to obesity, Dr Stanford takes Alexander through a history of bias in the media, and how healthcare professionals and practitioners c ..read more

Let’s kick off Unlearn to Learn! Our podcast is all about challenging what we think we know about obesity.  To launch the series, our host Alexander French from World Obesity Federation is joined by Dr Arya Sharma, Professor Emeritus of Medicine & Past-Chair in Obesity Research and Management at the University of Alberta, and the Past-Clinical Co-Chair of the Alberta Health Services Obesity Program.  There are countless myths about living with and managing obesity. For example, a common myth is that obesity is primarily caused by inactivity, a lack of physical exercise and/or unh ..read more

Are you a medical student, work in healthcare or just curious to know more about obesity? In our new podcast series, there is something for everyone to learn (or un-learn). Unlearn to Learn will challenge everything you thought you knew about obesity, improve your knowledge through insight and explanation – leaving any judgement at the door. Brought to you by World Obesity Federation and Scope E-Learning, join renowned medical practitioners and professors to untangle the myths and misconceptions around the disease, busting myths and using science and data to give you the full picture. We’ll be ..read more