Show Notes
🎙️This episode is sponsored by an unrestricted education grant from Eli Lilly Canada
Advice like “prep your meals,” “build a routine” or “just be consistent” can sound straightforward in a clinical setting. But for someone living with ADHD and obesity, that advice may carry a much higher cognitive cost than it appears to on the surface.
Dr. Lisa Ma joins us on the podcast to explore how ADHD can intersect with obesity care through attention, executive function, reward processing, impulsivity and emotional regulation. We talk about what can happen when difficulties with execution are mistaken for a lack of knowledge or motivation, and how clinicians can make treatment plans more realistic for the person in front of them.
In this episode What clinicians should understand about the relationship between ADHD and obesity How executive function, attention and reward processing can affect everyday health behaviours How ADHD stigma and weight stigma can compound shame and self-blame Practical ways to make behaviour-change strategies more doable How ACT, CBT, mindful eating and other tools can fit into clinical care What to consider when ADHD treatment and obesity pharmacotherapy are both part of the care plan Why sleep, mood and anxiety deserve attention alongside ADHD and obesity How curiosity and collaboration can help clinicians adapt a plan when it is not working
Additional resources Dr. Ma’s YouTube channel: https://utm.guru/utGV3 Written resources from Dr. Ma: https://utm.guru/utGV9 Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines: https://utm.guru/utGWf Chapter: Effective psychological and behavioural interventions in obesity management: https://utm.guru/utGWj Free course: Introduction to Behaviour Change Counselling for Obesity: https://utm.guru/utGWl
Become a Certified Bariatric Educator Today’s conversation is a good reminder that obesity care takes knowledge, compassion and a commitment to reducing stigma. For healthcare professionals with experience in obesity care, Obesity Canada’s Certified Bariatric Educator exam is one way to have that knowledge recognized and stand out in the field.
The next CBE exam takes place on November 28, 2026 and applications must be submitted by November 2 to be eligible to write.
Learn more and apply: https://utm.guru/utGWo
Learning objectives Analyze the intersection of ADHD, neurodivergence, and executive dysfunction in weight management, shifting focus from diagnostic labels to an individual's functional profile. Apply personalized psychological and behavioral interventions (including ACT, CBT, and mindfulness-based strategies) to tailor behavior change for neurodivergent patients while mitigating weight bias and self-blame. Evaluate the role of pharmacotherapy as a vital tool in the clinical toolbox to support executive function, impulse control, and appetite regulation.
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Disclosures This episode script was developed using NotebookLM to synthesize complex source materials into a structured educational format. The tool was used to analyze the Canadian Obesity Education Competencies (COECs), the Obesity Canada Strategic Plan, and guest-specific research. Specific prompts were utilized to extract relevant learning objectives, map them to CanMEDS roles, and generate competency-based interview questions.
While NotebookLM assisted in drafting the narrative arc and educational framework, all content has been reviewed, fact-checked, and refined by the podcast hosts and Obesity Canada's clinical experts. This ensures the script aligns with current Clinical Practice Guidelines and authentically represents the lived experience perspective.
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🎙️This episode is sponsored by an unrestricted education grant from Eli Lilly Canada
🎙️This episode was made possible through the partnership between Obesity Canada and Boehringer Ingelheim in support of the Global Patient Charter Framework initiative.
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