Obesity is a disease that disproportionately affects women. Those from ethnic/racial minorities and those who live in poverty are often more severely affected. Given the health consequences of excess adiposity, it is important for clinicians to understand the societal, socio-economic, interpersonal, and physiologic factors that influence the development, progression, and persistence of obesity in women. Women often carry a disproportionate share of the burden of household, family, and caregiving responsibilities leaving little or no time for personal care and health promoting behaviors. Research shows that these gender inequities contribute to the development of obesity in women. Women experience more weight bias and stigmatization in multiple areas of life including employment and healthcare. Health inequities, pay disparities, food insecurity, adverse childhood experiences, domestic violence, sexual harassment and assault, and society’s over-focus on women’s bodies all impact the weight and health of women. These factors influence a woman’s ability to both engage in treatment and treatment response. Clinicians need to know how to intervene at the stages of a woman’s life when she is most at risk of weight gain. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause have a bi-directional relationship with obesity, as do conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome and infertility. Maternal obesity contributes to childhood obesity and has a negative impact on the health of future generations. And as women age, obesity contributes to an increased number of complications. This presentation will expand the lens through which you view women with obesity and will provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to provide informed, evidence-based treatment to the women you care for. Short patient vignettes will illustrate how psycho-social and physiological factors intersect and will provide you with strategies to address them.

CME/CE Expiration Date: 4/23/26

*The expiration date listed above is the last day CME/CE credit can be claimed for this specific presentation.