Breaking Biases: A New Narrative on Obesity and Health with Jamy Ard MD, FTOS (ep – 51)

Host Ginger Hultin talks with Dr. Jamy Ard, a clinical researcher and co-director of the Wake Forest Baptist Health Weight Management Center. Dr. Ard explains the importance of focusing on health rather than just body size, the role of body mass index (BMI) as a screening tool, and how obesity is a complex chronic disease influenced by environmental factors. He also addresses the emotional burden and stigma associated with obesity, and the necessity of personalized treatment approaches including nutrition, pharmacotherapy, and surgery. 

In this episode, we’ll cover: 

02:51 The Role of BMI in Diagnosing Obesity 

06:59 Health Disparities and Obesity 

08:45 Obesogenic Environment and Its Impact 

14:55 Health Risks of Excess Body Fat 

18:07 Health at Every Size Movement 

25:37 Pharmacotherapy and Surgical Treatments 

32:55 Personalized Approach to Obesity Treatment 

About Ginger Hultin, MS, RD, CSO: 

Ginger Hultin is an integrative, clinical dietitian and cancer nutrition specialist with a master’s degree from Bastyr University, where she currently serves as adjunct faculty teaching clinical nutrition. She has been in practice for over 10 years using a personalized, holistic nutrition approach. She runs a full-time virtual private practice, Ginger Hultin Nutrition where she helps clients with complex health problems improve their health thought nutrition. In addition to being the host of The Good Clean Nutrition Podcast, she is an author of two books, Anti-inflammatory Diet Meal Prep and the How to Eat to Beat Disease Cookbook. Ginger is also currently pursuing her doctorate in clinical nutrition. 

Connect with Ginger on Instagram, LinkedIn or her website. 

About Jamy Ard, MD, FTOS: 

Jamy Ard, MD, FTOS is Vice Dean for Clinical Research of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.  Dr. Ard is a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Prevention in the Department of Medicine, and co-director of the Advocate Health Wake Forest Baptist Weight Management Center. Dr. Ard’s research interests include clinical management of obesity and strategies to improve cardiometabolic risk using lifestyle modification. His work has focused on developing and testing medical strategies for the treatment of obesity in special populations, including African Americans, those with type 2 diabetes and older adults. With more than 25 years of experience in clinical nutrition and obesity, Ard has had the opportunity to serve on several expert panels and guideline development committees, including the USDA’s 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Dr. Ard currently serves as president of The Obesity Society. 

Connect with Jamy on LinkedIn. 

This podcast is produced by Larj Media. 

Additional Links: 

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