Obesity: stopping the stigma

Guests: Chyke Doubeni, Michael Hobbes

Obesity continues to be a major public health issue in America. As this problem persists, so does the interest in stemming the negative effects of excessive weight. We begin today’s show talking with University of Pennsylvania physician and professor CHYKE DOUBENI. He’s a member of the US Preventative Services Task Force, who just released a report advising physicians to direct their obese patients to specialists, including mental health professionals who can help overweight individuals overcome the mental roadblocks that come with trying to lose weight. Then, We’ll talk with HuffPo’s  MICHAEL HOBBES, who just wrote a widely circulated piece entitled Everything You Know About Obesity is Wrong. The piece, based on several interviews, conveys what life is like living with the stigma of being obese, including from medical professionals.