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“I’m incredibly optimistic about the future of obesity treatment,” says Dr Free.
“We’re seeing a greater understanding that obesity is a complex medical condition rather than a personal failing. I’d like to see that understanding continue to grow, alongside better education, collaboration and improved access to treatment for people who need it.”
Medical weight management has expanded considerably in recent years, while established bariatric procedures such as sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass continue to have an important role for appropriately selected patients. Increasingly, these options are viewed as complementary tools within the broader management of obesity rather than competing approaches.
In September, Dr Free also spent time overseas, including in Toronto, Canada, and several locations throughout the United States, meeting with leaders in the international obesity and metabolic surgery community, including members of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) and the President of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), Dr Joe Northup.
These discussions brought together leaders from around the world to consider how obesity treatment can continue to improve and, importantly, how the benefits and safety of effective treatments can be better communicated to patients, general practitioners and the wider community.
One important issue is the perception of bariatric and metabolic surgery. Despite decades of research and significant advances in surgical techniques and patient care, some people continue to believe that surgery is inherently unsafe and may therefore favour medication without fully understanding all available treatment options.
“Bariatric and metabolic surgery has been extensively studied for many decades and is now an established treatment option for appropriately selected patients,” says Dr Free. “We need to ensure that patients and their doctors have access to balanced, evidence-based information when considering treatment.”
The international discussions also focused on the longterm economic implications of obesity treatment. While medications have created important new opportunities for patients, surgery may offer substantial long-term value for appropriately selected individuals. From both an individual and health-system perspective, considering the long-term effectiveness, ongoing treatment requirements and costs of different approaches is increasingly important.
For Dr Free and his international colleagues, the message is not that one treatment should necessarily replace another. Rather, patients should understand that obesity is a chronic condition requiring individualised care and that surgery remains an important, safe and effective option within the broader range of available treatments.
At Surgery Gold Coast, Dr Free works alongside a team that includes nurse practitioner Virginia Moore, dietitians, psychology support and nursing staff. Depending on an individual’s circumstances, care may involve medical weight management, consideration of surgery, nutritional and psychological support, or a combination of approaches, together with ongoing follow-up.
For Dr Free, involvement with ANZMOSS and the wider international bariatric community is also an opportunity to continue learning.
“No matter how experienced you become, medicine continues to evolve, and I believe it’s our responsibility to keep improving for the benefit of our patients,” he says.
As President of ANZMOSS, he is also passionate about creating opportunities for Australian and New Zealand clinicians to learn from international colleagues, while supporting education and mentoring closer to home.
Ultimately, while treatments and technology will continue to evolve, good obesity care remains centred around the individual.
For patients considering their options, the message is perhaps simpler than ever: there may be more than one pathway available, and the right place to begin is with an informed conversation about your health, circumstances and long-term goals.
35 Slim-magazine.com.au