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The International Association for the Study of Obesity Newsletter

January 2012

Greetings!

 

News from IASO's Executive Director, Chris Trimmer
 

ChrisAs we start back at work I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy New Year and to update you on some of the news and improvements you can look forward to in 2012.

 

-   Website and New Membership Area

IASO's homepage has a new look, if you haven't already had a browse around the new website format log on now - www.iaso.org. We will continually be improving the website and in 2012 you can look forward to experiencing a new and much more user friendly system when registering for conferences and events.

 

From mid-2012, if you are a member of one of IASO's National Associations (http://www.iaso.org/about-iaso/membership/) then you will be able to access the new Membership Area and obtain significant discounts on a wide range of items including registration to conferences and events, journal subscriptions and educational courses (including SCOPE).

 

-   Specialist Certification of Obesity Professional Education (SCOPE)

SCOPE is an educational programme for all health professionals, providing evidence-based content developed by leading experts in the obesity field. On 31st January 2012 we will be launching SCOPE as an entirely new programme in an e-learning environment to better meet the needs of health professionals (further details below).

The series of short, interactive modules (http://www.iaso.org/scope/e-learning/) which will be accessible online and via mobile device are designed specially to fit into the schedules of busy professionals. Modules offer practical guidance and assessments on a wide range of topics related to the management of overweight and obese patients. The new SCOPE programme is aimed at clinicians, dieticians and other healthcare professionals involved in the prevention, management and treatment of obesity.

Individual members of IASO's National Associations are eligible for significant discounts (20%) on either the full course (�250) or individual modules (�15). In 2012 we will be launching a SCOPE Scholarship scheme in order to offer grants to support individuals through the SCOPE programme.

 

  Journals

IASO now has three fully owned journals: Obesity Reviews (Impact Factor 5.862), Pediatric Obesity (Impact Factor 2.694), and Clinical Obesity which launched in 2011. IASO's journals are discounted for members of IASO's National Associations (http://www.iaso.org/about-iaso/membership/).

IASO's three journals all welcome submissions - if you would like more information on how to submit articles to one of our journals please visit http://www.iaso.org/publications/.

 

-   Hot Topic Conferences and STOCK Conferences

We will continue to develop the Hot Topic Conference Series. The series of topic-focussed meetings will be run in collaboration with our National Associations and other relevant organisations in locations that reflect our global membership.

Hot Topic Conferences planned for 2012:

o    "Let's Talk about Weight", 14th March in London with the UK Association for the Study of Obesity and the Royal College of Nursing

o    Obesity and Mental Health, 26th - 28th June in Toronto with the Canadian Obesity Network

o    Obesity and Cancer, date to be confirmed, in London with the World Cancer Research Fund International

To register for one of the Hot Topic Conferences visit the IASO events page at http://www.iaso.org/events/.

 

In addition to the Hot Topic Conferences, IASO has an on-going series of conferences that were originally initiated to commemorate the lifetime research contribution of Dr Mike Stock. The Stock Conferences have a unique format that emphasises the opportunities for discussion and bring together a small number of specialists to discuss focussed, basic science topics that have clinical relevance.

Stock Conferences planned for 2012:

o    Brown Adipose Tissue: a human anti-obesity tissue? Autumn 2012, location to be confirmed

o    Harnessing the Beneficial Properties of Adipogenic Microbes for Improving Human Health, Autumn 2012, location to be confirmed

Attendance at Stock Conferences are by application only - keep an eye out on the events page on the IASO website for information on how to apply to attend one of these conferences.

 

  Prevalence Data

You can now access the most current prevalence data on obesity at http://www.iaso.org/publications/world-map-obesity/ with up-to-date, interactive maps of global prevalence of obesity in adults and overweight children. There are also a series of tables and charts available on our obesity data pages http://www.iaso.org/publications/trackingobesity/. Keep your eyes on these pages as they will be undergoing a style change in the first few months of the year making the data more easily accessible.

We are also planning to establish a service for members which will provide a method for providing customised data analyses, producing figures and charts on demand. We hope that this will be of value for inclusion in papers for publication and lectures at meetings and conferences.

 

  Policy and Advocacy

IASO has a dynamic Policy and Advocacy team who work with IASO's International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) to have a global impact and reaching policy makers with practical proposals and clear analyses based on evidence. We aim to represent all of our National Association members at high-level meetings such as the recent UN Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases and contributing to the formation of the Global Monitoring Framework and Targets for NCDs currently in development by the WHO. In addition, we are involved in a number of research projects including the ENERGY project (European energy balance research to prevent excessive weight gain among youth) and the SPOTLIGHT project (sustainable prevention of obesity through integrated strategies). Read more about our projects at http://www.iaso.org/policy/euprojects/.

 

Between the 19th and 23rd November 2012 IOTF is partnering with Deakin University, sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation, to bring together key experts from WHO, leading academic institutes and global non-governmental organisations, potential donors and funding agencies to establish and agree upon a broad framework for the global monitoring of government and private sector actions with respect to the food environment related to obesity, and establish an international network to conduct the necessary monitoring.

 

-   New employees

IASO would like to take this opportunity to welcome two new staff members to the team; Claire Mercer who has taken up the position of Event Manager can be contacted at cmercer@iaso.org and Natasha Joyner who has been appointed as Administrative Assistant can be contacted at njoyner@iaso.org.  

 

News from IASO's President, Philip James

 Article Subheading 

Philip JamesGlobal monitoring of obesity...

IASO's President Philip James and Executive Director Chris Trimmer participated in the World Health Organization's stakeholder consultation on monitoring non-communicable diseases (NCDs) held in Geneva on December 15th 2011.

The meeting with relevant NGOs is part of WHO's remit to develop a global monitoring framework and recommendations for voluntary targets for the prevention and control of NCDs. IASO and its IOTF presented governments attending the UN High Level Meeting in September with a set of 'obesity outcomes' for policy development and obesity monitoring (see http://www.iaso.org/site_media/uploads/IASO_Obesity_Outcomes_Final.pdf).

 

The proposed targets are for 2025 compared with a baseline in 2010, and in summary are:  

1. Mortality from NCDs: 25% relative reduction in overall mortality from CVD, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory disease.    

2. Diabetes:10% reduction in prevalence of diabetes.

3. Tobacco smoking: 40% relative reduction in prevalence of current tobacco smoking.

4. Alcohol: 10% relative reduction in alcohol intake among persons aged 15+.

5. Dietary salt intake: Mean adult population intake of salt less than 5g/day.

6. Blood Pressure /hypertension: 25% relative reduction in prevalence of raised blood pressure.

7. Obesity: No increase in obesity prevalence from 2010 levels among adults aged 25+.

8. Prevention of heart attack and stroke: 80% coverage of multidrug therapy for people aged 30+ who have a 10 year risk of heart attack or stroke of ≥30%, or who have existing CVD.

9. Cervical cancer screening: 80% women aged 30-49 screened at least once.

10. Elimination of industrially produced trans-fats from the food supply.  

The NGOs present were in general in support of these proposals, modest though many of them were. They also called for additional targets and for greater specificity in how the proposals are to be achieved. They questioned why previous WHO proposals and targets were not included e.g. on saturated fatty acids, why there was no focus on children and why issues such as early events in life (agreed in the UN statement) were not included. They also asked why the emphasis was on delivery by WHO and health departments when the UN had specified that all government departments should be involved.

WHO said that the current target setting was only a part of the proposals and that these targets will be debated by member states and the WHO Executive Board. WHO was expecting civil society to get involved in implementing strategies for preventing NCDs. 

 

SCOPE
                                                             
Start 2012 on the right foot with a commitment to professional development...

 

Register for SCOPE e-learning - a convenient online obesity education programme with resources developed by the world's leading experts in the field of obesity.

 

Choose SCOPE and benefit from:

  

         Highly functional, comprehensive e-learning environment

         Bite-sized modules designed to fit into your busy schedule

         A series of expert lectures on a range of topics that complement traditional learning

          and practical guidelines

         A personal dashboard to monitor your learning progress and track your CPD and 

          CME points

         Access to a global network of obesity experts

         Interactive assessments

         Important and relevant articles selected by experts

         Notification of SCOPE Accredited live training events worldwide

         Discounted SCOPE Summer School and ICO registration

 

Take up this fantastic opportunity to become SCOPE Certified and benefit from international recognition associated with the SCOPE programme. You only need 12 SCOPE Points to become Certified, with a minimum of 4 from e-learning modules and the balance from either SCOPE Accredited courses or e-learning modules.

 

Enroll before 21st January 2012 to save �75 on an annual subscription!

 

Please contact IASO's Education Manager, Ange Aikenhead at aaikenhead@iaso.org for more details. 

 

 

 

Obesity in the News

 

Latest articles of obesity in the news...

 

Please note that all external links are provided for information only, their inclusion is not indicative of IASO endorsement.

 

Studies: Calories key in weight gain not protein (January 4th, 2012)

Study measured individuals in controlled conditions on varying levels of protein intake. Researchers identified that it was the total excess calories that were key in weight gain not % protein intake.

 

UK: Government launch new 'obesity plan' promoted by Celebrity chef and 'supermarkets' (January 4th, 2012)

The UK Government have launched another obesity plan. The plan includes a recipe book promoting cheap and easy meals by Ainsley Harriott and a cut price food from three major supermarkets, though the level of discount still remains unclear.    

 

Research: Weight loss, weight gain, obesity and brain damage link  (January 4th, 2012)

The author concludes "Our data would point to more structural, biological basis for why it is difficult to keep weight off" he says. "It has to do with damage to the brain area that is responsible for controlling body weight."

 

Click headlines to see the full story

 

To see more of the latest articles of obesity in the news please visit: http://www.iaso.org/news/obesity-news/ 

 

Publications
 
Clinical Obesity...

 

COB COVER

Clinical Obesity publishes high quality translational and clinical research papers and reviews focusing on obesity and its co-morbidities. 

 

Key areas of interest are:

 

* Patient assessment, classification, diagnosis and prognosis

* Drug treatments, clinical trials and supporting research

* Bariatric surgery and follow-up issues

* Surgical approaches to remove body fat

* Pharmacological, dietary and behavioral approaches for weight loss

* Clinical physiology

* Clinically relevant epidemiology

                                  * Psychological aspects of obesity

                                  * Co-morbidities

                                  * Nursing and care of obese patients

                                  * Regional prevalence studies and ethical papers

 

Please submit your clinical research papers via our online-peer review system.

 

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Obesity Reviews Volume 13 Issue 1...

 

A message from Professor David York, Editor-in-Chief...

 

OBR COVERThe January edition of Obesity reviews contains six reviews that cover a number of aspects  related to obesity comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes and the metabolic syndrome in addition to reviews of the current status of neuroimaging in obesity and the effects of exercise type on visceral fat. However, this months publication starts with an editorial in which the editor summarizes the progress made with the journal during 2011 as well as highlighting some changes in editorial policy and identifying some exciting innovations in providing on line virtual supplements that can be viewed free at www.obesityreviews.net.

The first manuscript in the January edition (Ujcic-Voortman et al) is a systematic review that highlights the increased risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease among Turkish and Moroccan migrant groups within Europe. The second manuscript (Dorresteijn et al) identifies the obesity related hypertension as a distinctive hypertensive phenotype that requires a modified approach to diagnosis and management. It discusses the roles of vascular inflammation, oxidative stress, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and sympathetic drive to the development of obesity-related hypertension and the possibility for novel targets for pharmacotherapy. The third review (Santilli et al) extends this focus on cardiovascular disease by discussing the role of platelet activation in accelerating atherothrombosis in Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome. It provides a mechanistic explanation for the attenuated response to antiplatelet agents in the obese. Carnell and colleagues review the current knowledge and future directions for neuroimaging in relation to understanding and treating obesity. They provide fascinating insight into not only those regions of the brain which we associate with homeostatic controls of energy balance and gut-brain interactions but also identifies the very distributed network of sites relating to reward, memory and emotions that are integrally involved in the regulation of feeding behavior and appetite in man. The continuing recognition of the benefits of bariatric surgery are discussed by Dixon et al, in this case as a systematic review of the impact of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding on type 2 diabetes. Finally Ismail et al have undertaken a systematic review and meta-analysis of the differing effects of aerobic and resistance exercise approaches on visceral fat. They identify the essential need for aerobic exercise to reduce visceral fat but also suggest that this may be accomplished at levels of exercise below the current recommendations. Finally, and on a lighter note, if you have not heard about the kitchen of the famous Italian Composer Rossini, take a quick look at Stephan's Corner and learn how Rossini's health deteriorated when he stopped composing and focused more on his gastrointestinal pleasures.

 

Obesity Reviews January 2012 Issue

 

**Watch out for a special supplement of Obesity Reviews which will take a look at interventions to prevent overweight and obesity among pre-school children. The supplement is a publication of the on-going EU-funded TOYBOX project.

  

 

 Pediatric Obesity...    

 

 A message from Professor Michael Goran, Editor-in-Chief...

 

POB COVER

In February we will be publishing our inaugural issue with Wiley-Blackwell under the new name of Pediatric Obesity. I would like to give thanks to the wonderful team at our new publisher, Wiley-Blackwell, who have worked so hard to design a brand new look and feel to the Journal. In this next issue we will have a variety of papers covering a diverse range of topics, approaches, settings and age ranges, they all address the big picture question of identifying new strategies and approaches for treating and preventing obesity in children. All the papers are available through early-view at www.pediatricobesity.net. As I write this, I am approaching the end of my first year as Editor and I have enjoyed this new responsibility immensely. In the first year, we received 370 submissions and we have kept our promise of fast reviews with an average of just 27 days to first decision and 35 days to final decision. This would not be possible without our stellar team of Associate Editors from around the globe, as well as the countless Reviewers who have taken the time to provide the all important peer-reviews that is critical to making sure we publish the highest quality papers possible. So I would like to thank everyone who has submitted or reviewed papers, and contributed to getting us to this exciting new stage of our Journal development. Please consider sending us your best work and in return we will continue our promise of fast and fair reviews. Thank you all once again for a great year, and I hope you will find Pediatric Obesity a helpful and invaluable publication and research tool in our collective work to address the global problem of childhood obesity. Submit your work here.

 

Ethnicity as a risk factor 

Finally, it is often assumed that children in immigrant groups may be especially vulnerable to developing overweight and obesity. But is this true in Europe? New research from the EU-funded ENERGY Project will be published soon in Pediatric Obesity describing ethnicity and obesity status among 10-12-year-olds. Watch this space!

 

 

If you have any comments or information you would like us to include in the next IASO newsletter please contact:

 

Emma Graham

Publishing and Communications Manager

email: egraham@iaso.org

phone: +44 (0) 20 7685 2580

web: http://www.iaso.org

 

 

 

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