Do you ever wonder why the obesity epidemic continues to grow worldwide? Do you want to know how you can be part of the change? This conversation goes beyond borders to shine a light on the urgent need for better obesity awareness, more inclusive bariatric support, and stronger access to care across the globe. We’re here to show you that your story matters and that solutions exist, no matter where you live.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Ricardo Cohen, a leading obesity medicine specialist and president of IFSO (International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders) from São Paolo, Brazil, who shares his expertise on the global state of obesity care. Together, we discuss the new obesity definition, why obesity diagnosis matters, and how individualized obesity treatment—from lifestyle interventions to weight loss surgery—can help fight this chronic disease.

Tune in, and don’t forget to join the BariNation Community to attend community meetups, watch exclusive bonus content and support the podcast for as little as $5 per month!  You can also contribute to BariNation and become a Drive To Thrive Supporter with a one-time or recurring donation.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• (00:00) Opening
• (00:49) Join the TREO Foundations, ‘The Walk’ on Saturday, September 27th
• (01:48) Dr. Cohen highlights his work in obesity research and obesity treatment
• (02:35) Preclinical obesity vs clinical obesity, obesity diagnosis and obesity stigma 
• (04:39) Discusses the global rise of the obesity epidemic, pointing to obesity genetics
• (07:30) Discussion of a biological, chronic, complex disease with no single solution for obesity treatment
• (10:35) Discussion of obesity awareness, access to obesity support, and improving obesity outcomes

KEY TAKEAWAYS:  

• The obesity epidemic is not just a U.S. issue—it’s a global health challenge. This episode highlights how obesity care and bariatric support can break stigma, improve access to treatment, and empower patients around the world.
• Like other progressive conditions such as diabetes, lupus, and cancer, obesity requires a thorough understanding of its progression and a comprehensive, multi-faceted medical approach. It is also a disease that both deserves and needs proper treatment.
• The TREO Foundation is leading the way by funding obesity research and expanding access to care. Their mission supports better treatments, early diagnosis, and more inclusive approaches to obesity awareness worldwide.
• BariNation is proud to be the national sponsor of the Trio Foundation’s Walk, standing with the bariatric community in advancing obesity treatment, building community resources, and offering inspiration and hope for anyone navigating their journey.

RESOURCES:

• BariNation Website
• Tune in, and don’t forget to join the BariNation Community to attend community meetups, watch exclusive bonus content and support the podcast for as little as $5 per month! You can also contribute to BariNation and become a Drive To Thrive Supporter with a one-time or recurring donation.
• BariNation - Email
• BariNation’s How to Find an Obesity Specialist Guide
• International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders
• TREO Foundation - The Walk
• Join BariNation on the TREO Walk
• The Lancet Report on Obesity
• Dr. Anne Rogers - Ep 252
• Dr. Jaime Ponce - Ep. 250

GUEST BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Ricardo Cohen, with over 30 years of experience, including 15 at Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz, is a globally recognized bariatric surgeon named among the top 30 by ASMBS. With over 10,000 surgeries, he pioneers research on metabolic surgery for type 2 diabetes. He holds a PhD from the University of São Paulo, is editor of Obesity Surgery, and was the former president of the 2016 IFSO World Congress in Rio.

Additionally, he is a past president of SBCBM (2011-2012) and IFSO Latin American Chapter (2018-2019), and he is currently the President of The International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO), a Federation composed of national associations of bariatric surgeons and Integrated Health professionals. Currently, there are 76 official member societies of IFSO, as well as individual members from countries that thus far have not formed a national association. 

ABOUT:

If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty.

April Williams: You've just tuned into a podcast that welcomes you into a community, a resource center, and a safe place that powers your [00:00:15] journey towards personal wellness.

Natalie Tierney: Our goal is you leave us today feeling hopeful, inspired, and ready to live your best bariatric life.

Their virtual walk to stomp the stigma is on Saturday, September 27th, and we want you to walk with us. Join our virtual Bari Nation team by clicking the link below in these show notes. Join the team, [00:01:00] walk with us, raise awareness when we come together as a nation. Great things happen. Hi, Bari Nation.

Dr. Ricardo Cohen: Hi April. Happy to be here.

Before we dive into that conversation though, I'd love for you to introduce yourself to [00:01:45] our friends and followers who have not met you before.

We kind of spend some time speaking about, I was one of the last commission experts involved, so we got a lot to to speak about and [00:02:15] dive into obesity and how we can fix or try to fix the obesity to understand the obesity epidemic.

Dr. Ricardo Cohen: Actually, if you look at the obesity itself, the BMI Body Mass index does not tell the story because it doesn't tell us the fat distribution, it doesn't tell us mainly if that [00:02:45] adiposity has any impact over health. So this is the current definition that has been forever with us. And if it, if nothing changes.

Preclinical obesity is a risk condition, so it's excess ADI s without any signs and symptoms. So no impact in, uh, health and [00:03:30] lives at the present, while clinical obesity is an impact on health and life at the present moment. So that's a definition of disease in all dictionaries. So this is where we came from.

April Williams: Absolutely. And friends, we'll make sure that we link that Lancet report for you in the show notes. We also have two amazing conversations with, with some of your peers, Dr. Cohen, Dr. Anne Rogers, [00:04:15] and Dr. Jaime Ey have both joined us on this podcast and spoken extensively about the That Lancet Report. So we'll link all of those in there as well.

Dr. Ricardo Cohen: Exactly. This is a worldwide thing, and probably there's [00:04:45] genetics of course, as the base of the pyramid.

So it's less [00:05:15] activity tons of times in a screen. Um. Ultra food is cheaper, more attractive, uh, maybe addictive. We still exactly don't know plus genetics. However, April, I can tell you that [00:05:30] if I tell any policymaker or a payer that we have. 4 billion people with obesity without knowing their signs and symptoms like clinical obesity.

So season we have a problem.

Despite me being a very active human being, eating a mostly whole food diet, it just took a little [00:06:30] nudge in some of those different areas that that catapulted me to 326 pounds, and the shame and the frustration that I felt was a. Paralyzing. It took me a very long time to get to this point where I made the decision to have bariatric surgery [00:06:45] and what I see in in the Lancet Report and what I see in kind of the modern landscape of obesity in medicine is experts like you who are really saying loudly, this is a disease.

If you don't go in and talk to it, talk to an obesity medicine specialist about that.

It's like cancer. Mm-hmm. It's a chronic and progressive disease. Mm-hmm. And yes. It's, uh, it's a condition, it's a disease that deserves treatment. Yes. And, and it carries along other diseases. We don't need other diseases to [00:08:00] diagnose obesity, for example. Mm-hmm. We have diabetes and obesity. We have depression and obesity.

Go for it [00:08:45] because you need it.

And it's not at all, and it's not at all. I, I I, [00:09:15] I love to kind of share this example, right? If you have heart disease or if you have diabetes, you have inadvertently done something along your life possibly to contribute to that. But it doesn't mean that those people don't deserve treatment, of course, right?

Dr. Ricardo Cohen: together, people need together. Exactly. Yeah.

Despite treatment, just like some cancers will reoccur or [00:10:00] progress despite treatment, it doesn't mean that you are not worthy of accessing that care. But it does mean you have to start and you have to engage daily with the fight against this disease.

Persons like you. We need Bari Nation, we need our federation. We need the national societies. We at ifso, we overrun 77 National, so 79 with the new that will it, their incoming societies, [00:10:30] but 77 currently that all of us obesity experts in all. Professions like dieticians, nutritionists, endocrinologists, health, primary care, physicians, surgeons, uh, we all need to [00:10:45] engage our patients, people living with obesity to look for treatment because it's not your fault.

April Williams: A thousand percent [00:11:15] agree. Yeah. And friends, if you're watching and listening this podcast episode and you think you might be struggling through the disease of obesity, or you are, you are actively treating it. If you are looking for a, a surgeon and a care team [00:11:30] that will treat you with dignity and respect and will truly partner with you as you.

So absolutely encourage you to do that. You are allowed to find a provider that works for you and [00:12:00] fits you well, and we want to help you access that care.

April Williams: Yep, now is the time friends to start thinking and treating the disease of obesity or your excess weight differently. There is no better time than now to really tap into expert obesity care, and we hope that we can help you along that journey. If you're [00:12:30] looking for a safe community of peers and experts to help you join Bari Nation.

But absolutely download that guide so you can find a provider that works for you. Dr. Cohen, thank you so much for joining me today.

April Williams: That wraps up another empowering episode of the Bar Nation podcast. If you enjoyed today's episode, keep the conversation going by joining the Bari Nation membership community. Where you can attend live support events, access OnDemand [00:13:00] resources, and find a caring community.

Natalie Tierney: Join us at Barination.mn.co. If you found this podcast valuable, help us produce it by becoming a $5 monthly supporter at Barinationpodcast.com.