Course Summary

Obesity is a common disease that has reached epidemic levels worldwide. Obesity can lead to other serious diseases and a higher risk of mortality. Obesity is determined by a person’s body mass index. When a person is above certain threshold body mass levels, they may be candidates for medications that can help them achieve clinically meaningful weight loss. Liraglutide (Saxenda) is one of the weight-loss drugs that has been successful in managing and reducing weight in obese patients. Lifestyle changes are also recommended in conjunction with medication treatment for obesity. Health clinicians should inform overweight patients of the need for them to incorporate a healthy diet and an exercise regime into their daily routines if they want to attain meaningful, long-term weight loss and better long-term health outcomes.

Course Format

Homestudy

Learning Objectives

• To increase knowledge of Saxenda® for prescribers and clinicians involved in the treatment of obesity

Course Syllabus

• Introduction
• Obesity as a Serious Worldwide Disease
  1. Prevalence of Obesity
  2. Epidemiology of Obesity
  3. Body Mass Index (BMI) and Obesity
• Complications of Obesity
  1. Heart Disease and Stroke
  2. Hypertension
  3. Dyslipidemia
  4. Type 2 Diabetes
  5. Obesity and COVID-19 Infection
  6. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OAS)
• Liraglutide (Saxenda) Obesity Therapy
  1. Approved Uses for Saxenda
  2. Mechanism of Action
  3. Published Guidelines for Saxenda
  4. Dosing Recommendations
  5. Long-Term Results with Saxenda
  6. Liraglutide May Reduce Cardiovascular Disease
  7. Contraindications
  8. Side Effects of Saxenda
  9. Saxenda Drug Interactions
  10. Saxenda and Cardiovascular Outcomes
  11. Saxenda and Diabetic Patients; Patients on Insulin
  12. Counseling when Prescribing Saxenda
• Liraglutide Compared to Other Obesity Therapy Drugs
• Obesity Therapy Drugs and Insurance Coverage
• Case Study: Medical Weight-Loss Management
  1. Discussion
• Summary

Author

Kellie Wilson, PharmD

Kellie Wilson is a Doctor of Pharmacy practicing in Anaconda, Montana, where she lives with her husband and four children. She attended the University of Montana in Missoula where she graduated in 2009 with a doctorate in pharmacy. She later worked in Boise, Idaho for a large, retail pharmacy for 2 years, and then returned home to Montana to oversee an independently owned retail and long-term care pharmacy in Anaconda. As an independent retail pharmacist she has become very involved in psychiatric pharmacy for two major behavioral health organizations that are located around all of Montana. Kellie’s passion is retail pharmacy because she enjoys the interactions with customers as well as the challenges and rewards of staying current with the continuous changes in the pharmacy field.