UW News

April 11, 2011

Factors influencing obesity is topic of 2011 Annual Science in Medicine Lecture April 13

UW Health Sciences/UW Medicine

2011 Annual Science in Medicine Lecture
Dr. Arya M. Sharma
Chair, Obesity Research and Management,
University of Alberta
noon to 1 p.m.
Wednesday, April 13
D-209 UW HSC

Dr. Arya Sharma, one of the world’s leading experts on obesity and its management, will give the 2011 Annual Science in Medicine Lecture at the UW School of Medicine. His topic will be “Etiological Framework for the Management of Obesity.”

Sharma is professor of medicine and chair of obesity research at the University of Alberta.

He will speak from noon to 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 13, in Turner Auditorium, Room D-209, UW Health Sciences Center. His talk is free and open to all faculty, staff and students. No registration is needed.

Sharma studies the evidence-based prevention and management of obesity and its complications. He has authored or co-authored more than 250 articles on obesity and related cardiovascular disorders and has lectured on the subject all over the globe.

Sharma passionately believes educating the public on this chronic disease. He maintains a blog, called Dr. Sharmas Obesity Notes, where he regularly writes about his thoughts on obesity and new developments and news coverage in the field. He also has a Facebook page and Twitters on the topic.  Sharma makes regular public and media appearances to inform the public on the complexity of this disease.

Arya M. Sharma, M.D.

Arya M. Sharma, M.D.

As the 2011 UW Science in Medicine Lecturer, Sharma will talk about systemically assessing the effects social, cultural, biomedical, and psychological factors, as well as treatments, such as dieting and drugs for other conditions, have on energy input, metabolism and expenditure.  He will discuss factors that affect metabolism – how the body powers its activities and stores energy. Metabolism is influenced by age, gender, genetics, brain hormones, loss of muscle mass and strength, metabolically active fat, medications, and prior weight loss.

He will also look at the many facets of energy intake – social and cultural influences, mindless eating, physical hunger, emotional eating, mental health contributors, and medication.  Then, he will examine influences on expending energy through activity – physical and emotional deterants,  sociocultural factors, and medications.

Sharma will show how analyzing the framework of contributing factors can help clinicicians systematically assess, identify, and thereby address the specific determinants of an individual patients energy balance, including imbalances leading to weight gain. Such an approach could result in more effective prevention and management of obesity.

The 2011 Science in Medicine lecture will be televised to:

  • Harborview Medical Center Ninth & Jefferson Building, Room 1360
  • UW Medicine South Lake Union, 123B Administration Building C
  • VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle and American Lake
  • Seattle Childrens Research Institute, Pearl Jam Room 806
  • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
  • Washington State University Riverpiont Campus, Spokane Academic Center, Room 343
  • University of Alaska Anchorage CPISB 2105
  • University of Alaska, Fairbanks, WRRB 219

Please see the Science in Medicine website for location details

For more information contact Viola Brown at 206.221.5807