2022 in review: Panamanian Association for the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity (APPTO)

The Panamanian Association for the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity (APPTO) organised educational activities for its members and other healthcare professionals throughout 2022.

On 18 and 19 November 2022, the Association had its XVIII Congress on Obesity, Metabolism and Bariatric/Metabolic Surgery, with more than 30 national and international speakers from North America and Latin America.

Healthcare professionals from several areas of medicine attended such as: primary care physicians, dietitians, surgeons, physical therapists and medical students.

The conferences were focused on the burden of obesity in Panama and Latin America, and updates on the treatment of obesity including lifestyle measures, pharmacologic treatment and bariatric/metabolic surgery, patient centered treatment of diabetes and obesity, among other topics.

In October, the association organised their first 5km walk/race to promote healthy lifestyles in the population, where several members of the community participated with their families.