The Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) supports many aspects of the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including:
- A strong emphasis on reducing intake of ultra-processed foods and added sugars
- A focus on nutrient-dense foods containing fiber, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
- The recommendation to limit saturated fat intake to no more than 10% of total daily calories and to prioritize healthier unsaturated fats
- Emerging evidence highlighting the importance of nutrition in supporting gut microbiome health
- Support for extended breastfeeding as beneficial to both maternal and child health
At the same time, the OMA emphasizes that obesity is a chronic, relapsing and progressive disease process affecting weight homeostasis. While nutrition therapy and dietary modification are foundational components of obesity prevention and treatment, dietary interventions alone are often insufficient for many individuals living with obesity to achieve and sustain long-term improvements in weight and health outcomes.
Effective obesity care requires a comprehensive, evidence-based approach, including:
- A healthful dietary pattern
- Regular physical activity
- Behavioral and psychosocial support
- Medical therapies, including FDA-approved anti-obesity medications
- Metabolic and bariatric surgery and other procedural interventions when appropriate
The OMA is hopeful that increased attention to nutrition quality and healthy lifestyle promotion will help reduce the burden of obesity for future generations. However, the Association reinforces that nutrition choices are influenced by many factors, including cultural, economic, environmental, and medical considerations.
Patients are best served through individualized care, developed in collaboration with qualified healthcare professionals—including registered dietitians, physicians, physician associates and nurse practitioners—to determine nutrition strategies that align with each person’s unique health needs and lived experience.
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Beyond the Plate: OMA Emphasizes Comprehensive Obesity Care in Response to New Dietary Guidelines
Effective obesity care requires a comprehensive, evidence-based approach , including: A healthful dietary pattern Regular physical activity Behavioral and psychosocial support Medical therapies, including FDA-approved anti-obesity medications Metabolic and bariatric surgery and other procedural interventions when appropriate The OMA is hopeful that increased attention to nutrition quality and healthy lifestyle promotion will help reduce the burden of obesity for future generations.
The Importance of Nutrition Quality in the Treatment of Obesity
Comprehensive obesity management ideally should utilize a spectrum of treatments -- nutrition therapy, physical activity, behavior modifications and medical interventions such as medication management. Medical nutrition therapy is an essential pillar regarding treatment of patients with obesity. Nutrition quality is just as critical as calorie reduction in obesity treatment. By reducing hunger signals, patients may find it easier to adhere to their nutritional goals. The Mediterranean diet, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and plant-forward diets each offer distinct benefits and varying levels of evidence supporting their role in obesity care. Source https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32059053/ The Mediterranean diet has the most consistent evidence for weight management and cardiometabolic benefits. The effect of the DASH diet with supervised physical activity decreases body weight, waist circumference, and fat mass. (Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go... ) When guiding patients on dietary choices, it is essential to consider cost and accessibility. For clinicians seeking additional guidance, the 2024 OMA Obesity Algorithm—Important Principles for the Effective Treatment of Patients with Obesity is a valuable resource and is free for OMA members.
The Vegan Diet and Weight Loss
In the U.S., only about 1% of people follow a strictly vegan diet, according to a 2023 Gallup poll. However, many others say they have considered or tried it or are at least trending away from animal-based foods.