As weight loss drugs continue to grab the spotlight, our panelists will delve into the broader impact of obesity on health care expenses, from diabetes and heart disease to various cancers.
In Indiana, the numbers are staggering – obesity and overweight conditions caused a jaw-dropping $9.3 billion reduction in the state's economy in 2022, equivalent to 2% of the state’s gross domestic product.
But we won't just stop at the numbers; we explore how defining obesity as an illness or disease can revolutionize health care coverage.
Watch our True Conversations webinar as .we discuss the impact on employer health care spend, the cost of higher work absenteeism, and the value of treating obesity with patient care.
Originally aired on January 31, 2024.
Host:
Aaron Searls, RPh, MBA, Vice President of Business Development at True Rx Health Strategists
Guest Panelists:
Dr. Whitney Blakley, Bariatrician, Community Health Network
Dr. Blakley is a medical weight loss physician at Community North Hospital in Indianapolis. She is board-certified in internal medicine and obesity medicine. Dr. Blakley completed her residency in internal medicine at Vanderbilt University and received her doctorate from the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Tim Dall, Executive Director, Life Sciences Consulting, GlobalData Plc.
Tim is a health economist with over 25 years of experience studying the economic burden of chronic disease and the value of disease treatment and prevention. His work applies economic theory, statistical analysis, cost/benefit analysis, program evaluation, and modeling to address complex forecasting and policy issues. Tim’s expertise extends beyond the economic burden of diseases to forecasting the demand for health care services and assessing the future supply adequacy of the health workforce. Tim earned his Masters in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Chelsea Durnil, PharmD, BCACP, True Rx Health Strategists
Chelsea Durnil, PharmD, BCACP, is a Clinical Innovation Pharmacist and operates OnTrack Diabetes Management at True Rx. She previously worked as an Ambulatory Care Pharmacist at Indiana State University. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Purdue University.
