Many Americans struggle with being overweight, social stigmas still prevent people from talking to doctors and seeking treatment.
The recent success of GLP-1s for weight loss has shed new light on the obesity epidemic in the United States. People have seen success reducing body fat with the use of these medications, and the consistency of the results demonstrates how obesity is a medical condition that should be treated as such. However, social stigmas still exist and many people living with obesity are still reluctant to speak with a doctor about potential treatments.
The Obesity Association is a division of the American Diabetes Association. The organization is partnering with Novo Nordisk to promote improved obesity care.1 Novo is the company responsible for Wegovy and Ozempic, two of the most popular GLP-1 medications for weight loss.
According to a press release from the Obesity Association, the goal of the partnership is to change the way that people talk about obesity. This involves providing educational materials for doctors and taking steps to reduce the stigmas attached to obesity.
The ADA’s chief executive officer Charles “Chuck” Henderson said in the press release, “There have been tremendous advances in medical understanding and treatment options for obesity. Unfortunately, stigma, shame, and blame often prevent people who need care from pursuing it. It’s time to change the conversation. We are grateful to Novo Nordisk for becoming a strategic supporter in our work to raise awareness about obesity and its complications, and to ensure people, communities, and health care teams have access to obesity care and education.”
In the same press release, Novo Nordisk’s senior vice president of clinical development and medical & regulatory affairs Anna Windle, PhD, added, “At Novo Nordisk, we believe our responsibility to health goes well beyond the medicines we develop. As an inaugural supporter of the Obesity Association, and with more than 25 years dedicated to advancing obesity research and care, we are proud to support a holistic approach to the management of obesity that aids health care professionals and empowers individuals with valuable education, tools, and resources. By addressing the complexities of obesity and its related complications, we strive to drive meaningful change that improves health outcomes for people living with obesity.”
The ADA also recently announced a new report on the connection between diabetes and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).2 According to the ADA, the majority of people with type 2 diabetes suffer from MASLD, but there is still a lack of education and guidance surrounding the condition.
In a press release, the ADA’s senior vice president of health care improvement Dr. Nuha El Sayed said, “Liver disease tends to be often overlooked as a major complication of diabetes. It is critical for health care professionals to have access to updated information to effectively screen for and treat liver disease in diabetes and prediabetes.”
Dr. Raveendhara Bannuru, the ADA’s vice president of medical affairs and the report’s chief methodologist, also said, “The interprofessional team approach to liver disease prevention and care is critical for appropriate disease management. This concept is comprehensively discussed throughout the document and we encourage health care professionals to consider this guidance in conjunction with clinical judgement and individual preferences when making informed care decisions.”
