Welcome to the OMA Blog

The AMA held its Annual Meeting in Chicago from June 6–11, 2025. I was honored to continue in this role and was joined by our alternate delegate, Dr. Jennifer Paisley. I’d like to share several highlights from this year’s meeting.

1 On the other hand, there are other rare types of obesities resulting from some rare but highly impactful genetic variants or deletions (i.e. Bardet- Biedl Syndrome, POMC deficiency, LEPR deficiency, Prader-Willi Syndrome), or even acquired hypothalamic damage (i.e. acquired hypothalamic obesity) ( Figure 1). Rare genetic variants or damage to the hypothalamus can lead to impairment of a critical pathway, the hypothalamic melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) pathway, otherwise known as the leptin-melanocortin pathway. This pathway is responsible for regulating hunger and energy expenditure and any impairment in the pathway leads to rare MC4R pathway diseases. 2-3 It is important to be aware of this unique subset of obesity associated with MC4R pathway diseases as MC4R pathway diseases are likely underdiagnosed and early identification of MC4R pathway diseases is essential for optimal disease management. 4-6 Figure 1: Rare Hypothalamic MC4R Pathway Diseases The MC4R signaling pathway regulates hunger, satiety, and energy expenditure, consequently affecting body weight. 7-8 Genetic variants that impair function of genes involved in the MC4R Pathway function, or physical damage to the hypothalamus leads to decreased alpha-MSH and impaired downstream activation of the MC4R pathway. 9 Figure 2: Impairment of the MC4R Signaling Pathway MC4R pathway diseases caused by rare genetic variants are classified as monogenic or syndromic in nature. 10 Monogenic obesity refers to obesity due to variants in single genes (e.g. POMC deficiency, LEPR deficiency, PCSK1 deficiency, SRC1 deficiency, SH2B1 deficiency, etc.) along the MC4R pathway. Syndromic obesity refers to obesity that is also due to genetic variants or deletions in the pathway but also associated with additional phenotypes such as organ-specific developmental abnormalities, such as visual impairment, renal anomalies, cognitive impairment, dysmorphic features, etc. 10-11 Rare Genetic Diseases of Obesity Provider Listing A patient's diagnostic journey can be complex and may take years.

This article found that obesity in childhood is significantly associated with later development of mental health disorders in adolescence, highlighting the importance of early intervention to address both physical and psychological health.

The Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) announced its 2025 Award Winners at the recent Obesity Medicine 2025 Conference in National Harbor, MD, this April. ABOM Candidate of the Year Award Presented to the OMA member who scored the highest on the American Board of Obesity Medicine Certification Examination Recipient: Johanna Elizabeth Tran, MD, DABOM The Steelman-Seim Educator Award for Excellence in Academics Recipient: Silvana Pannain, MD Dr.

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.

This ignited her passion for obesity medicine and created the path for a new chapter in her medical career. One of the most pressing challenges she encountered was time: traditional office visits weren’t long enough to address the multifaceted nature of obesity. Ng recognized the potential of virtual group visits. The idea was first sparked by a colleague’s remark about the absence of group visits in medical weight loss. However, it was a patient’s longing for the sense of community they once found in a popular community-based weight loss program that solidified her vision. When she proposed a virtual weight management program, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Ng saw someone like herself successfully conducting group visits every day. Ng fine-tune her group visits. Ng faced significant challenges in adapting group visits to the unique realities of her practice and organization. Since launching her virtual group weight management program, the impact has been profound. Patients appreciate the accountability, community, and interactive nature of the visits.

Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), contributing to hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic dysfunction. Effective Treatment Strategies for Reducing Cardiovascular Risk A comprehensive approach to obesity treatment can significantly lower cardiovascular risk. Pharmacotherapy plays a critical role in obesity management, particularly for patients at high cardiovascular risk. SGLT2 inhibitors, originally developed for diabetes management, have also shown promise in obesity treatment and cardiovascular protection. These medications offer an innovative approach to obesity and cardiovascular disease management, providing an alternative to or adjunct to traditional lipid-lowering and antihypertensive therapies. The Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) provides a comprehensive Obesity Algorithm® , which outlines individualized treatment strategies, including pharmacologic options tailored to patients with cardiovascular comorbidities. These guidelines reinforce the necessity of an individualized, multidisciplinary approach to obesity management in patients with existing heart disease. Obesity and cardiovascular disease are intricately linked, making obesity management a crucial component of cardiovascular risk reduction. OMA Resources for Clinicians For clinicians seeking to enhance their expertise in obesity and cardiovascular disease management, the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) offers a variety of resources.

Dr. Leslie Golden’s journey into obesity medicine was shaped by both personal experience and a deep-rooted passion for improving patient care.

Discover effective lipedema treatment options health providers can use to better support patients and improve long-term outcomes.