The annual ASBP/N&M conference is April 14-19, 2009 in Charleston, SC
Although much of the science supporting carbohydrate restriction in recent years has been all but ignored by much of the mainstream of the medical and nutrition community, one very brave organization that is fully dedicated to serving doctors devoted to helping their patients with weight loss has stepped up to the plate over the past couple of years to provide a voice to the researchers working in the trenches of low-carb dieting–it’s the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP).
While the ASBP is not explicitly a “low-carb” group, many of its members are at the very least open to the idea of using whatever strategies they can find that will effectively produce weight loss in their patients struggling to shed the pounds. One of our own Dr. Mary C. Vernon is a past president of ASBP and has shared in a podcast interview why she is such a strong supporter of the work they are doing. Bariatric physicians are unique doctors who have the responsibility of using a variety of highly-individualized methods for producing weight loss in people who need to try something different to burn stored body fat. And livin’ la vida low-carb certainly fits the bill in some cases.
Each year, the ASBP puts on conferences where fresh, new ideas are shared by fellow bariatric physicians to help them improve the work they are doing in their practice. However, in the past couple of years, they have done something truly extraordinary in light of all the negative press that low-carb diets has received in the press and from the so-called health “experts.” They have allowed the Metabolism Society to bring in guest speakers to share with these bariatric doctors the latest developments with high-fat, low-carb diets. It began in Nashville, TN in 2007 and then Phoenix, AZ in 2008. This year the conference is taking place in Charleston, South Carolina on April 18-19.
This year’s guest speakers will be evaluating the impact of dietary changes in protein, carbohydrates and fats for creating the optimal diet for weight loss, diabetes and cardiovascular health. Here are this year’s presentations from the low-carb experts:
The Optimal Diet: Is It Fat, Carbs or Protein? – Donald Layman
The Mythology of Dietary Lipids – Gary Taubes
Impact of Carbohydrates versus Fat on CVD Risk Factors – Jeff Volek
Reducing Carbohydrates for Treatment of Obesity and Diabetes – Eric Westman
Minimum vs. Optimum Protein Requirements – Bob Wolfe
Aging, Protein Needs and Meal Distribution – Douglas Paddon-Jones
Dietary Protein Effects and Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes – Mary Gannon
Carbohydrate Thresholds for Glycemic Control – Donald Layman
The conference is taking place at Embassy Suites North Charleston Convention Center, 5055 International Boulevard, North Charleston, SC 29418. And this special weekend of low-carb research is open to the public at a cost of $229. I’ll be attending and covering the event at my blog and lining up some outstanding future podcast interviews with the best and the brightest from both the ASBP and the Metabolism Society. About.com Low-Carb Diets Guide Laura Dolson will also be attending and covering the event and I’m sure Drs. Mike and Mary Dan Eades will also be there.
Let me know if you are planning on coming to this conference and we’ll be sure to introduce you to all the major players within the low-carb community who will be there. If you’re interested in getting into the nitty gritty of the low-carb research world, then you owe it to yourself to be at this conference. Are you unable to attend but would like to help defray my expenses for covering the event at my blog and podcast show? Click on the “Donate” button at the top of my blog and THANK YOU for your support!
