The rise of GLP-1 medications has upended the weight-loss space. The drugs have shown that for many people, medication can be the answer to their weight-management issues. The results have sparked new interest in this area, and researchers are realizing that obesity is more complex than previously thought.

How should doctors treat obesity?

The American College of Surgeons recently held a news conference to discuss its viewpoint on obesity.¹ According to the experts present, obesity is a treatable medical condition and not just an issue of will power.

The panel was moderated by Matthew Hutter, MD, MPH, FACS, and the chair of the department of surgery at the John Sealy School of Medicine, University of Texas branch.

During the news conference, he explained, “People come to us with the stigma that they have failed because diet and exercise didn't work, and everyone told them their whole life that it should work. We don't blame a patient when a patient's cancer spreads. We do everything we can to treat it."

Dr. Thomas C. Tsai, MD, MPH, FACS, medical director for health policy research at ACS, was also present at the news conference. According to him, "We have shown after decades of research that this is a metabolic disease, and it's unfair to put all of this on the patients alone. This is a condition that is effectively treated, and if effectively treated, can help people live longer and healthier lives. That's the conversation we need to be having with patients."

The group recommended a combination of mediation and surgery to treat obesity. This would include both GLP-1 medications and bariatric surgery. Combined, the two options could result in an average of over 100-pounds in weight loss.

The group also points out that GLP-1 medications come with a significant time commitment and can be very expensive. By adding surgery to equation, patients can reduce the amount of time they must stay on the expensive medication and deal with the side effects.

"Obesity is not a failure of willpower––it is a treatable medical condition," said Monali Misra, MD, FACS, FRCSC, associate director of the Cedars-Sinai Marina Weight Management Center and director of the bariatric surgery program at Beverly Hills Physicians. "It is essential, though, for patients to have accurate information when they're making decisions about their care."

It's not uncommon for people to believe that obesity is simply an issue of willpower. When it comes to gaining weight, eating more calories than are being burned will result in fat gain. Simply avoiding overeating should prevent this.

However, researchers are finding that it’s not so simple for many people to just eat less food. Different people experience hunger in different ways, and many may have a much harder time fighting hunger pangs, even when they’ve already consumed enough calories for the day.

Richard M. Peterson, MD, MPH, FACS, bariatric and metabolic surgery director at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, and president of the ASMBS, also said, "We must recognize that obesity has proven treatments, yet far too many people are being left behind. With the use of precision treatment, we need to be talking to patients and customizing the treatment for their disease process."

Sources

1. Surgeons: Obesity Isn't About Willpower––It's a Treatable Medical Condition. ACS. October 22, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/surgeons-obesity-isnt-about-willpower--its-a-treatable-medical-condition-302591728.html