Welcome to the OMA Blog

Each month, the OMA Pediatric Committee reviews a pediatric-focused obesity research update to help keep you up to date about the latest findings. 

Learn about the side effects of weight loss drugs, from digestive issues to long-term impacts. Get the facts before starting your regimen.

Today, there's renewed optimism due to the emergence of GLP1-based drug therapies like Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide), which demonstrate remarkable effectiveness for weight and health. Unfortunately, many of the available alternatives, like compounded versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide, are not what they are advertised to be. These companies stated that they do not sell the active ingredient to compounding pharmacies, and substances made or distributed by compounding pharmacies or other healthcare practitioners that claim to be semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) or tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro) have not been reviewed by the FDA for safety, quality, or efficacy. For more information, see the following details: Compounded peptides: An Obesity Medicine Association Position Statement - ScienceDirect | Obesity Medicine Association Medications Containing Semaglutide Marketed for Type 2 Diabetes or Weight Loss | FDA Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers | FDA Open Letter Regarding the Use of Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) and Zepbound™ (tirzepatide) | Eli Lilly and Company Responsible Use Letter | Novo Nordisk Things You Should Know About Compounded Anti-Obesity (AOM) Medications | Obesity Medicine Association

Chelsea Wiltjer Yost, MD, is a Medical Director & Obesity Medicine Specialist for Emory Bariatric Center and Assistant Professor of General Internal Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine

In 2013, the AMA declared that obesity is a disease, a controversial claim that has sparked debate. OMA explains why we believe that obesity is a disease.

With weight loss medications proliferating and attracting ample media attention, more patients are asking about their costs. Several newer medications, mainly GLP-1 receptor agonists, have been introduced. Some are diabetes treatments prescribed off-label, and, in some cases, manufacturers have rebranded and gained FDA approval specifically to treat obesity. For example, in November 2023, the FDA approved Zepbound, a brand name for the drug tripeptide, already sold as Mounjaro, to treat diabetes.

As the Thanksgiving dinner settled into a cozy ambiance, the delightful aroma of roasted turkey filled the air. Among the gathering of family and friends, the lively conversations took an unexpected turn when a family member turned to dinner conversation for an opportunity to share knowledge about sleep and obesity.

Longitudinal Associations Between Facets of Sleep and Adiposity inYouth Article Summary This longitudinal study looks at aspects of Sleep that have been shown to be related to fat mass gain support the position statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), among others, for later school start times especially for adolescents. Article Review This longitudinal study from the NIH studies certain aspects of sleep and its correlation with weight gain. It looked at parameters beyond just sleep duration and correlated it with fat mass gain after one year. Facets of Sleep that have been shown in this study to be related to fat mass gain appear to support the position statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), among others, for later school start times especially for adolescents. There have been many review articles and clinical studies that have associated shortened duration of sleep and/ or sleep disruption with weight gain in both children and adults.

The recent results of the SELECT Study published in the New England Journal of Medicine provide invaluable insights into the complex disease of obesity. The report has prompted several of the country’s leading obesity expert organizations, the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA), The Obesity Society (TOS), the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), and the STOP Obesity Alliance (STOP), to join together in issuing the following statement: