Welcome to the OMA Blog

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:

November OMA Member highlight Molly Lupo, NP

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

Is obesity genetic? Do our genes determine if we'll have a healthy body weight or not? Explore the role of genetics in the obesity epidemic.

The "obesity paradox" suggests that individuals with overweight or obesity may have lower mortality rates in certain conditions. However, recent research challenges this.