Obesity is a medical condition in which too much body fat negatively impacts a patient’s health. It is healthy to have some body fat. In fact, a healthy level of body fat is needed to survive. But too much fat can be harmful to a patient’s body. Obesity can cause low-level inflammation throughout the body, harming blood vessels, muscles (including the heart), and organs (like the liver and pancreas), raise cancer risk, and cause joint and muscle pain as well as obstructive sleep apnea.
Treatment for obesity includes lifestyle changes, such as nutrition and exercise, in combination with long-term treatment with prescription drugs, endoscopic procedures, or surgical procedures.
Guidelines for the management of patients with obesity focus on how to use approved anti-obesity drugs in addition to lifestyle intervention in adults that are overweight or obese (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2, or ≥27 kg/m2 with weight-related complications) who have an inadequate response to lifestyle interventions alone.
AGA’s clinical guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations to guide physician’s clinical practice decisions.
In adults with obesity or overweight with weight-related complications, who have an inadequate response to lifestyle interventions, AGA recommends adding pharmacological agents, such as GLP-1s, to lifestyle interventions.
In individuals with obesity seeking weight-loss intervention who have failed a trial of conventional weight-loss strategies, AGA suggests the use of intragastric balloon (IGB) therapy with lifestyle modification over lifestyle modification alone.
AGA provides clinical practice updates that present state-of-the-art guidance and include a combination of evidence-based information, and when not available, best consensus opinion to help clinicians manage care of people with obesity.
Weight loss remains a first-line intervention in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
AGA and our members are working to advance public policies that support the science and practice of gastroenterology. With nearly 42% of American adults living with obesity and increasing numbers being treated by gastroenterologists, there is an urgent need for expanded access to treatment and care.
The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) [H.R. 4818/S. 2407] is a bi-partisan bill that would expand Medicare coverage of obesity screening and treatments from a diverse range of health care providers who specialize in obesity care as well as FDA-approved medications for chronic weight management.
AGA University helps physicians learn about how to care for people with obesity.
AGA’s GI Patient Center can help your patients understand obesity: causes, treatment, lifestyle changes, prescription medications, endoscopic and surgical procedures, and complications.
Learn more about obesity symptoms, testing and treatment below.
Obesity is a medical condition in which too much body fat negatively impacts your health. It is healthy to have some body fat. In fact, a healthy level of body fat is needed to survive. But too much fat can be harmful to your body.
Obesity is most often measured by body mass index (BMI), a calculation of body weight compared with height. BMI isn’t the only way to measure healthy weight. There are other factors involved (like muscle mass), but national guidelines define obesity based on BMI:
Obesity can have many harmful health effects. It impacts your body because of the way fat cells act. For instance, having excess fat cells can cause low-level inflammation (swelling) throughout your body. This can harm your blood vessels, muscles (including the heart), and organs (like the liver and pancreas). Inflammation can raise your risk for many types of cancer. It can also cause joint and muscle pain as well as breathing problems at night (called obstructive sleep apnea).
Studies have shown a link between obesity and a higher risk of many health issues, including:
There are many things that can raise a person’s risk of obesity:
Managing weight can be hard. But there are many safe and effective approaches that can help. It’s important to talk with your health care provider about which of these options could be right for you.
If you think your weight may be impacting your health, it’s important to talk with your health care provider about your concerns and what your options are. It can be a hard topic to bring up, but open communication with your provider is a key step in being healthy.
Don’t wait for your health care provider to bring it up. AGA can help you get the conversation started. When your provider understands your health, personal history and goals, you can work together to find the option for you. Learn more.
If you’re considering obesity or weight management counseling or treatment, you may want to know what your health insurance plan will — or will not — cover. Some weight loss programs, services and treatments are covered by insurance plans. But each plan is different, so it’s important to check with your insurance provider. Learn more.
As a patient, you have the power to advocate and impact the future of obesity treatment in the U.S by sharing your story and experience. By contacting your elected officials in Congress, you can help lawmakers understand why obesity should be recognized as a long-term, or chronic, disease and advocate for more access to affordable, effective obesity treatment and care.
Find the tools and resources you need to contact your elected officials in Congress and urge them to support the passage of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) [H.R. 4818/S. 2407].
Discover upcoming events, webinars and other education to stay current with advances in the GI field.
© American Gastroenterological Association
© American Gastroenterological Association
