I n this inaugural issue of Obesity Management, weintroduce CORE, the Centers for Obesity Researchand Education. Formed in 1999, CORE provides

practical, clinical information about weight managementand obesity to primary care physicians and other health-care providers. Our mission is raising public awarenessabout the problem of obesity, the risk of excess weight,and options for preventing and managing obesity.

Eight leading research and treatment centers representCORE. All are involved in the management of over-weight and obesity. Nationally recognized experts in obe-sity management direct each CORE center, along with acoordinator.

CORE also provides interactive training workshops forhealthcare professionals. Workshops are held across theUnited States. Educational materials feature useful infor-mation and tools to be used in clinical practice. ObesityManagement will feature the same practical informationand tips provided in CORE workshops. For example, thisissue includes a pull-out, “My Daily Food Record,” alongwith tips on how patients can be aware of their eatingpatterns and make small changes in their diet (see CORE

January 2005 Obesity Management 23

CORE ReportOur Mission, Our Programs

Mayo ClinicRochester, MN Michael D. Jensen, M.D.Donald D. Hensrud, M.D. Coordinator: Michelle Hurst Phone: (507) 538-1565Fax: (507) 284-5745

Minnesota Obesity Research CenterMinneapolis, MN Charles J. Billington, M.D. Coordinator: Heidi Hoover, M.S., R.D.Phone: (612) 467-2566Fax: (612) 727-5997

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterBoston, MA George L. Blackburn, M.D., Ph.D. Caroline M. Apovian, M.D. Coordinator: Susan Morreale, CHESPhone: (781) 431-2627Fax: (781) 431-2647

Northwestern Memorial Hospital Wellness Institute

Chicago, IL Robert Kushner, M.D. Phone: (312) 926-8895Fax: (312) 926-5444

Pennington Biomedical Research CenterBaton Rouge, LA George Bray, M.D. Donna Ryan, M.D. Coordinator: Eleanor Meador, R.N.Phone: (225) 763-2514Fax: (225) 763-3193

St Lukes’-Roosevelt Hospital CenterNew York, NY Xavier Pi-Sunyer, M.D. Cathy Nonas, R.D. Coordinator: Betty Kovacs, M.S., R.D.Phone: (212) 523-8029Fax: (212) 523-8103

UCLA Center for Human NutritionLos Angeles, CA David Heber, M.D., Ph.D. Zhaoping Li, M.D. Ph.D. Coordinator: Susan Bowerman, M.S, R.D.Phone: (310) 206-3912Fax: (310) 206-5264

University of Colorado Health Sciences Center

Denver, CO James O. Hill, Ph.D. Dan Bessesen, M.D. CORE Program Director: Holly R. Wyatt, M.D.Phone: (303) 315-9004 Coordinator: Sara Garner, R.D. Phone: (303) 315-9026Fax: (303) 315-9976

CORE Educational Offeringswww.uchsc.edu/core

In order to attain the goals set in the organization’s missionstatement, CORE develops and delivers workshops across the UnitedStates each month. These workshops focus on interactive rather thandidactic learning techniques using small group settings.

Workshops include the following topics:

• Review of the NIH-NHLBI obesity treatment guidelines • Physician/healthcare provider as an agent of change • Providing an empathetic environment • Skill-building in effective counseling/communication techniques• Patient assessment • State-of-the-art approaches to nutrition therapy and exercise • Long-term approaches to weight loss and weight maintenance

including medication and surgery.

Participants are provided with CORE materials to help them beginto incorporate obesity assessment and management into theirpractices. In addition, local resources for obesity management aregiven to the participants. Workshops are approximately four hours induration, and CME credit is available. Pre- and post-evaluations arecompleted to assess workshop effectiveness.

List of Centers for Obesity Research and Education (CORE)

OB-Issue1_1verB2.qxd 11/3/04 9:33 AM Page 23

Tools and Patient Information in this issue). In addition,this column will also include news about other COREactivities and practical tips from participating CORE cen-ters.

National conferences were held on both coasts thisyear. They covered topics in the management and pre-vention of obesity, as well as the more practical aspectsof treating patients with obesity in a primary care prac-tice. The West Coast conference was held in Seattle,

Washington, on September 20–21, and the East Coastconference was held inWashington, D.C., on October25–26. Information from these conferences will bepublished in future issues of Obesity Management.

More information about CORE, including a calendar ofeducational offerings, can be found on the CORE web-site at www.uchsc.edu/core. ■

James O. Hill, Ph.D.

24 Obesity Management January 2005

CORE Report continued

F or this first issue of Obesity Management, COREbrings you their Daily Food Record Guidelinespatient worksheet. We encourage you to make

copies of these pages for your patients. Every issue ofObesity Management will bring you user-friendly handoutsand tools to help educate patients and track their progress.

When giving the Daily Food Record Quick-Start Guide-lines to your patients, spend a few minutes to explain howit works, what you would like the patients to do, and howyou plan to use it as part of their care. Always rememberto ask the patients if they have any questions, concerns, or

obstacles that might hinder their success in filling out therecord consistently and completely. Make sure patientsreceive enough copies of the My Daily Food Record sothey can record what they are eating for at least a week.Then, have them return for an office visit, where you canreview the record, discuss any challenges they faced, andreinforce their healthy food choices. ■

Sara Garner, M.S., R.D.Jennifer Stuht, M.A.

University of Colorado Health Sciences Center

CORE Tools and Patient Information

Send a copy of

to a colleagueCall 1-800-M-LIEBERT or e-mail

om@liebertpub.com

yManagementObesit

OB-Issue1_1verB2.qxd 11/1/04 3:43 PM Page 24