The project was named Obese, the first expert care center intended for “treating obesity as a disease worth taking care of“. Center wanted, imagined, created by League Against Obesity after three years of work with patient associations. It opens its doors this Monday, February 1 in Montpellier, in the district of La Paillade. A place open to anyone looking for a city doctor, but specializing in obesitology. It ensures a specific support of people with obesity, or 15% of the population. Chronic disease, which has become a public health problem and yet is poorly treated.
Changing the outlook on obesity
“There is a lack of consideration of obese people, since anyway they are told that they are fat, they eat too much and don’t move enough, explains Mélanie Delozé, manager of the center. So there is no treatment offered. GPs themselves are struggling because they don’t have the time and haven’t been trained. They hide obesity and will treat the associated pathologies, but without treating the parent disease“Especially since this disease is still not recognized as a long-term condition, which would allow financial support for care.
“If we associate obesity with food, it is precisely because it is an unrecognized disease”. Mélanie Delozé, manager of Obésanté
Obesity is often associated with a feeding problem while it is a complex and time-consuming disease, multiple factors : pollution, endocrine disruptors, lack of sleep or trauma, among others. “We know it today, but medicine and care have not kept up with the advances in research.“emphasizes Agnès Maurin, president of the League against obesity.
Personalized support
Obesanté offers a comprehensive care. It employs eight practitioners. General practitioners, tobacco and vascular doctor, a nurse, a dietitian, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, prescription of physical activity … For Mélanie Delozé, this is the main advance: “here the doctor will take the time to study all the associated factors: taking medication, stress … We will establish personalized support from the start, rather than prescribing a restrictive diet which will amplify weight gain.“To break with the years of medical wandering too often experienced by people who suffer from obesity.
The center is in addition to specialized centers (follow-up care, hospitalizations, surgery), as there are at the Montpellier University Hospital. Others should emerge in Dax, Villefranche-sur-Saône, Valence, where the League is already established. She is also working on the recognition of a university degree in obesitology with the Faculty of Medicine and the Regional Health Agency.
Find an economic model
There remains the financial question. Obésanté gathered 150,000 euros to see the light of day, with public and private funding (Region, City, Metropolis, CHU, Oc Santé, AG2R …). Its operating budget is estimated at 400,000 euros per year. “We have to find an economic model. We know that obesity is not a selling point“recalls Agnès Maurin.
*Obesity and Covid:
The coronavirus epidemic has reminded us of the fragility of people with obesity: 47% of people in intensive care are obese. They represent 40% of deaths linked to Covid-19 (Public health figures France). The league opened in March 2020 a crisis line at 04.48.206.206. Or your questions by email: [email protected]
* OBESSANT, at 195 rue Yves Montand in Montpellier, is open 6 days a week. From 8 am to 8 pm on weekdays and Saturday mornings from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Meeting on obesante.org, or Doctolib. By email at [email protected] or by phone at 04.48.20.49.30.
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