Nearly 42% of Americans today have obesity, which is a leading risk factor for developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, in addition to its potential to exacerbate diabetes-related complications.
The American Diabetes Association’s (ADA’s) Standards of Care in Diabetes recognizes obesity as a chronic disease in the same league as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and kidney disease.
As such, obesity care should follow the same person-centered, multifaceted approach—including a combination of lifestyle changes, medication, emotional support, and surgery. This allows those living with obesity to make an informed decision about what is best for their health.
Providing obesity care is essential in promoting health equity and allows people the chance to enhance their health by delaying or preventing type 2 diabetes, reducing the consequences of type 2 diabetes, and in some cases, even leading to diabetes remission.
Discover a wealth of tools and resources designed to enhance your understanding of obesity care and help you navigate important decisions about obesity care effectively. Gain valuable insights into person-centric approaches, which supports collaboration between those with obesity and their health care providers.
Set up a free account to delve into expert-led insights on obesity care through our library of webinars.
NEW Recording: Weight Management and Obesity Care Patient Engagement Training
Discover ways to address and combat obesity stigma and bias in practice to ensure quality care. By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to identify strengths-based, person-centered language and strategies within clinical care for each member of the team.
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Effective Obesity Management in the Primary Care Setting
Discover five actionable tips for obesity care and its related issues in the primary care setting. Participants will gain insights into the pathophysiology of obesity, factors that contribute to weight regain, medical and surgical options, and personalized obesity care plans.
The Pivotal Shift: Weight Management and Type 2 Diabetes
Speakers Robert Kushner, MD, MS, and Mary Lou Perry, MS, RDN, CDCES provide valuable insights into best practices for obesity care and supporting individuals with type 2 diabetes, providing five actionable tips for professionals and people with diabetes.
The Focus on Obesity podcast series is a collaborative project of the ADA and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Diabetes Core Update
Diabetes Day by Day
Diabetes Core Update is a monthly podcast that is perfect for busy health care professionals.
Special Edition: A Focus on Obesity, Part 1
Host, Dr. Neil Skolnik, is joined by Drs. Deborah Horn, Margot Savoy, and Walter Willetto to discuss the obesity epidemic and some of the reasons why the prevalence of obesity has increased over the last 50 years.
Special Edition: A Focus on Obesity, Part 2
Dr. Skolnik is joined by Drs. Deborah Horn, Thomas Wadden, and Donna Ryan to discuss approaches to obesity care, including lifestyle, medications, and bariatric surgery.
Special Edition: A Focus on Obesity, Part 3
Dr. Skolnik is joined by Drs. Susan Fidler, Charles Vega, and Margot Savoy to discuss how to have a dialogue with patients about obesity, including how to open up the conversation, how to handle resistance, and how to avoid stigma and bias.
Diabetes Day by Day is a podcast for people living with diabetes or obesity and their caregivers that shares expert advice and personal stories. Share these episodes with the people you see.
Special Edition: A Focus on Obesity, Part 1: A Shift in Perspective
This episode sheds light on the critical issue of obesity, offering both professional insights and personal experiences to foster a deeper understanding of the disease, aimed to inform, inspire, and encourage positive change in the way we view and care for obesity.
This episode explores the latest in obesity care. Learn about lifestyle strategies, including eating habits, physical activity, and behavioral approaches, as well as groundbreaking medications offering new hope for those struggling with obesity.
Special Edition: A Focus on Obesity. Part 3: Talking to your Doctor About Obesity Treatment
This episode delves into approaches to discussing obesity care and treatments with your doctor and strategies for effectively planning this conversation.
NEW: A Practical Approach to Weight Management
Review the components of developing an obesity care plan that emphasizes combining treatments to help with weight management.
NEW: Starting FDA-Approved Weight Management Medications
Explore weight management pharmacotherapy options and identify how to minimize side effects and mitigate muscle loss.
Pharmacologic Agents for Diabetes & Obesity
Explore the latest insights on pharmacologic options for managing diabetes and obesity care. Emphasizing various treatment options and the efficacy of blood glucose-lowering medications, this resource empowers health care professionals to implement obesity care strategies to improve health outcomes for people at risk of or living with diabetes.
Weight Management Treatment Options
Discover comprehensive insights into obesity care options. Explore the pivotal role of health care providers in guiding people through their obesity care journey and the importance of ongoing support and monitoring. Empower the people you see to set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals for their health, leading to sustainable results.
If you want to hear more about how the ADA is working to support obesity care, provide your email and we’ll be in touch with important research updates and how you can get involved.
is proud to support the work of the American Diabetes Association® to address obesity.
