2 / 5
7
t h
E u r o p e a n C o n g r e s s o n
Obesity and
Eating Disorder
Journal of Obesity & Eating Disorders
ISSN 2471-8203
A p r i l 1 2 - 1 3 , 2 0 1 8
Am s t e r d a m , N e t h e r l a n d s
Obesity 2018
Page 18
T
he 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 Psy-
chology 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 spo-
ken internationally about bariatric topics. He has published in
numerous journals, is an Associate Editor for the
Obesity Sur-
gery
journal and a Reviewer for Surgery for Obesity and Relat-
ed Disorders. He is passionate about his commitment to his
patients, integrative care, and advancing behavioural medicine
research.
pdavidson@bwh.harvard.eduDiversity issues in bariatric surgery
Paul Davidson
Harvard Medical School, USA
Paul Davidson, J Obes Eat Disord 2018, Volume: 4
DOI: 10.21767/2471-8203-C1-007