Preventing, Treating & Reversing the Disease of Obesity
Obesity Medicine Association
Membership, Education, & Resources
Obesity medicine combines science-based medicine with individualized obesity treatment, resulting in improved health outcomes for patients and career satisfaction for healthcare providers.
Start the Conversation. Treat Obesity First.
Obesity is a chronic, complex disease that requires precise diagnosis and comprehensive treatment. Yet we’ve seen firsthand that providers and patients alike are confused about what obesity care entails and where to begin.
Starting the conversation with your patients is the first step toward better health outcomes.
1. Center Obesity
Recognize obesity as a chronic disease and root cause of many other chronic conditions.
2. Start the Conversation
Invite your patients to talk about how you can work together to manage their obesity.
3. Build a Plan
Use holistic, patient-centered treatment across OMA’s four pillars of comprehensive care.
4. Support Long-Term Change
Continue care over time, knowing comprehensive obesity treatment is not a quick fix.
STEP 1
Center Obesity
When you treat obesity as a primary disease, you’re addressing the root causes of many other chronic conditions and supporting long-term health.
This means diagnosing and treating obesity as a chronic and complex primary disease first, instead of a secondary issue resulting from other conditions.
Find an Obesity Medicine Provider Near You
Find a trained obesity medicine physician or healthcare provider to customize a treatment plan for you. Search the Obesity Medicine Association’s member directory for an obesity medicine clinician in your area.
STEP 2
Start the Conversation
Treating obesity first begins with a conversation between clinicians and your patients. The Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) is working to simplify that conversation using evidence-based obesity care.
Try it out! Our Patient Simulator, OMAr, can help you practice conversations, test scenarios, and prepare for questions that patients may have about obesity treatment options.
MEET OMAR
Patient Conversation Simulator
"Hi, I’m Omar. I’m a patient living with obesity, and I have questions for you. Can you help?”
Live, Virtual Course | November 14-15, 2025
Fundamentals of Obesity Treatment
Join this online, interactive class and learn to implement a comprehensive individualized obesity treatment plan utilizing the pillars of obesity treatment (nutrition therapy, physical activity, behavioral modifications, and medical interventions) through interactive case studies. Earn up to 9.75 CME/CE.
STEP 3
Build a Plan
Once you have started the conversation with your patient about obesity care options, we’ll help you create a comprehensive, scientific, and individualized treatment approach. Personalizing your approach helps patients achieve their health and weight goals and live healthier, longer lives.
STEP 4
Support Long-Term Change
Evidence shows that preventing or treating obesity earlier in life reduces the risk for some chronic diseases and cancers, saves patients and the government on costly healthcare spending, and leads to improved long-term health outcomes.
Why Treating Obesity First Works
-
Obesity causes pathophysiological changes — including chronic low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hormonal dysregulation — that increase disease risk. Obesity directly contributes to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, osteoarthritis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and at least 13 cancers.¹ ² ³
-
Major medical organizations recognize obesity as a chronic disease driven by many factors – including genetics, hormones, metabolism, environment, and social determinants of health. These mechanisms biologically defend against excess weight and make weight regain more likely without ongoing treatment.⁸ ⁹
As medicine continues to evolve, we will embrace new breakthroughs while staying true to the OMA’s founding belief: holistic, patient-first care is essential to addressing the root causes of obesity.