E50: Empowering Health: Navigating Obesity Medicine, Medications, and Advocacy with Dr. Asma Al-zougbi

The Get Healthy Tampa Bay Podcast

Welcome to the Get Healthy Tampa Bay Podcast with Dr. Kerry Reller! This week I am joined by Dr. Asma Al-zougbi to discuss the challenges of weight management, the evolution of obesity medicine, and the crucial role of medications. They emphasize the need for insurance coverage advocacy, share practical advice on nutrition and exercise, and highlight the significance of open communication in patient care.
Dr. Asma Al-Zougbi is a board certified endocrinologist and the Medical Director of the Tampa Endocrinology Institute, offering one-on-one personalized endocrine care. She completed her fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of Iowa in 2017, where she also completed a Master’s degree in Medical Education in 2019. It was during fellowship that she shifted her focus to weight management, helping relaunch the weight management clinic at the University in 2019. As part of her interest in metabolic health, she also completed two years of basic science research, studying skeletal muscle atrophy in different mice models. She moved to Tampa in 2021, and has been serving the local community since then. When not in the clinic, she can be found trying not to pass out at CAMP Tampa or with her family at Gracie Tampa South and the Roy Jenkins Pool.
0:00 Welcome back! Guest Intro
0:47 About Dr. Asma
3:16 Evolution of Weight Management Tools
6:22 Challenges with Insurance Coverage
7:58 Advocacy for Medication Coverage
11:14 Impact of Obesity on Different Demographics
11:48 Issues with Affordability
12:18 Patient Empowerment
13:32 Individualized Approach
16:20 Approach to Medications
23:36 Discussion on Dietary Guidelines
24:26 Exercise and Importance of Preserving Muscle Mass
26:03 Connect with Dr. Asma, Closing Remarks
Steps to take when Medications (or Surgery) for Obesity are denied:
1. Send patient to: https://www.obesityaction.org/advocacy/resources/access-to-care-resources/, and have them complete "OAC's Report Issues Form," which is linked ~ halfway down the page.
2. Have patient reach out to their employer's HR department, and make sure that they are aware that the policy doesn't cover treatment for obesity. Patients may be able to request for individual coverage for treatment OR that their employer expand access for all employees to receive treatment. There is a copy of a sample letter to request coverage on the OAC's website as well.
3. At Open Enrollment, ask patient to investigate options and specifically select a plan that covers medications used to treat obesity.
Connect with Dr. Asma
Website: https://www.tampaendocrinologyinstitute.com/
Email: [e-mail]
Phone Number: [phone]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085222024528
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tampaendodoc/
Connect with Dr. Kerry Reller
My linktree: linktr.ee/kerryrellermd
Podcast website: https://gethealthytbpodcast.buzzsprout.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearwaterFamily
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clearwaterfamilymedicine/
Clearwater Family Medicine and Allergy Website: https://sites.google.com/view/clearwaterallergy/home
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#WeightManagement #HealthJourney #WellnessPodcast #ObesityMedicine #MedicalInsights

Chapters

1. Welcome back! Guest Intro (00:00:00)

2. About Dr. Asma (00:01:15)

3. Evolution of Weight Management Tools (00:03:44)

4. Challenges with Insurance Coverage (00:06:50)

5. Advocacy for Medication Coverage (00:08:26)

6. Impact of Obesity on Different Demographics (00:11:42)

7. Issues with Affordability (00:12:16)

8. Patient Empowerment (00:12:46)

9. Individualized Approach (00:14:00)

10. Approach to Medications (00:16:48)

11. Discussion on Dietary Guidelines (00:24:04)

12. Exercise and Importance of Preserving Muscle Mass (00:24:54)

13. Connect with Dr. Asma, Closing Remarks (00:26:31)