Turns Out, Obesity Is Not a Moral Issue

Too fat, too thin, not muscular enough, too masculine.

It’s impossible to avoid the barrage of messages about body image – often negative, frequently contradictory, sometimes dangerous – that come our way, says Ashley Myer. The second-year College of Medicine student grew up surrounded by them.

Although playing high school and college soccer helped her focus on fitness, not fatness, she knows that she and her Northeast Ohio Medical University classmates can be as susceptible as anyone else to the pervasive “not-enough” nature of them.

“Growing up – and I think a lot of girls and women do this— I struggled a lot with weight and how I saw myself. I thought, this obesity issue and this body problem that we face is not going to get better unless physicians have a way to solve it and navigate these issues,” says Myer.

“So many people think obesity is just a willpower thing, and it’s not. It’s genetics and the food environment that we live in – sugar, fat, it’s not local, processed foods, convenience foods – and people don’t get that.”

Not a moral issue

How to unravel the myths and provide solid medical information about obesity? Myer came up with a plan, and now she’s executing on it.

Wednesday, March 18, from 5-6:30 p.m., a bariatric surgeon, a bariatrician and an endocrinologist – all three, NEOMED alumni – will present “Turns Out, Obesity Is Not a Moral Issue,” a panel discussion, at NEOMED’s Watanakunakorn Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

Myer conceived and planned the event, which will feature three health care providers with whom she works at Summa Akron City Hospital. The three panelists are Adrian Dan, M.D. (’00), a bariatric surgeon and a director of the Summa Weight Management Institute; endocrinologist James Salem, M.D. (’88); and Ken Wells, M.D. (’89), a bariatrician and the Medical Director of the Nonsurgical Weight Loss Program at the Summa Weight Management Institute. Myer will moderate the discussion.

Along with interested members of the public and the NEOMED community of faculty, staff and students. Myer hopes that guests from NEOMED partner schools such as Cleveland State University, Hiram College (Myer’s alma mater), Kent State University, the University of Akron and Youngstown State University, will attend, too. The event is free, but registration is requested. Those with questions may contact Myer at amyer@neomed.edu.

The pleasures of teaching

Myer smiles broadly when she talks about her hopes of educating people at the panel. Teaching is something she enjoys, as she has discovered from working as a group fitness instructor teaching high intensity classes like Boot Camp at Sequoia Wellness at the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEW) Center for the last two years.

“It’s been a great way that I’ve been able to interact with the community around here. I love seeing people get better,” says Myer. “When they come consistently and listen to you, and they’re engaged, they improve. They get stronger, they get better, they get faster. They get happier, too!”

DETAILS

What: “Turns Out, Obesity Is Not a Moral Issue,” a panel discussion

When: Wednesday, March 18 from 5-6:30 p.m.

Where: Watanakunakorn Auditorium, across from the Reception Desk. When parking, follow signs to the Main Entrance to NEOMED, 4211 State Route 44, Rootstown, OH.

Registration: Free; visit Eventbrite