Rethink obesity management to help improve patient care
Obesity is a serious, chronic, and progressive disease influenced by many factors, but is often not treated the same as other chronic conditions.1-4
Obesity affects nearly 43% of the adult population in the US, giving rise to a national epidemic5*
DISEASE PROGRESSION
Make obesity part of the conversation
Obesity is associated with at least 60 weight-related comorbidities, some of which may be improved through weight loss.1,6-8
METABOLIC ADAPTATION
The physiological tug-of-war behind weight regain
Sustained weight management can be difficult due to the natural process of metabolic adaptation, which involves changes in several appetite-regulating hormones.9
*According to the most recent age-adjusted prevalence national data available from the annual National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2018. US adults aged 20 years and older.
Because obesity is about more than weight, it’s important to consider that every patient’s experience with weight management will be different
ADVOCACY AND RESOURCES
Reframing obesity management
Dr. Holly Lofton addresses the importance of proper diagnosis and what treatment can mean for patients with obesity.
DIAGNOSING OBESITY
Obesity patient example profiles
Review example profiles of patients with obesity who may be similar to patients you see in your own practice.
DIAGNOSING OBESITY
It’s time to start the conversation
People with obesity welcome guidance from their health care professionals but may be reluctant to start these conversations themselves.
References
1. Tondt J, Freshwater M, Hurtado Andrade M, et al. Obesity algorithm 2024. Obesity Medicine Association. January 2024. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://obesitymedicine.org/resources/obesity-algorithm/
2. Ward ZJ, Bleich SN, Cradock AL, et al. Projected U.S. state-level prevalence of adult obesity and severe obesity. N Engl J Med. 2019;381(25):2440-2450.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult obesity facts. Published May 17, 2022. Accessed June 5, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/php/data-research/adult-obesity-facts.html
4. Bray GA, Fruhbeck G, Ryan DH, Wilding JP. Management of obesity. Lancet. 2016;387(10031):1947-1956.
5. Hales CM, Carroll MD, Fryar CD, Ogden CL. Prevalence of obesity and severe obesity among adults: United States, 2017-2018. NCHS Data Brief. 2020;(360):1-8.
6. Garvey WT, Mechanick JI, Brett EM, et al; Reviewers of the AACE/ACE Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology comprehensive clinical practice guidelines for medical care of patients with obesity. Endocr Pract. 2016;22(suppl 3):1-203.
7. Ryan DH, Yockey SR. Weight loss and improvement in comorbidity: differences at 5%, 10%, 15%, and over. Curr Obes Rep. 2017;6(2):187-194.
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Obesity and cancer. Published November 7, 2023. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/risk-factors/obesity.html
9. Sumithran P, Prendergast LA, Delbridge E, et al. Long-term persistence of hormonal adaptations to weight loss. N Engl J Med. 2011;365(17):1597-1604.
