Obesity Education

The Path to Understanding Obesity Starts Here

Obesity is a medical condition and should be treated as one.

Beautiful overweight Asian woman with arms crossed

Changing the Way We Manage Obesity

The Obesity Association understands obesity care needs a new approach—one that’s based on science and research and is focused on the person with obesity. That's why we've established a new standards of care for obesity. 

What Is Obesity?

Obesity is a disease, which means obesity results from a mixture of behavioral, environmental, and genetic factors—not just from lifestyle. That means there's more to managing it than lifestyle changes like healthy eating and exercise. 

However, there is no single approach that works for everyone and there are many options that can be tailored to your needs. Making changes when living with obesity can be hard, but you have support. 

Free Resources for Addressing Obesity

Stay on Track
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Overcoming Weight Loss Challenges

Anti-obesity medications can effectively treat obesity, but it’s important to know the risks. Understand common complications and ways to manage setbacks to stay on track with your goals.

Stay on Track
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Self-Management Decision Making

This resource will provide you with tips to set weight-wellness goals, track and monitor your progress, and more!

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Get the Tips
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Nutrition Tips for Eating Well

Eating to support a healthy lifestyle goes hand-in-hand with eating foods that taste good to you.

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Overcoming Stress

Is stress keeping you from your healthy weight? Learn how to recognize it, manage it, and overcome it during your weight-wellness journey. 

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Making Healthy Changes

Take the first step on the path to a weight that’s healthy for you. Get ideas for developing daily behaviors and strategies that will help you reach your health goals.

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Get the Facts

Understanding Obesity

This resource outlines obesity risks and complications, treatment and medication options, healthy lifestyle changes, and creating an obesity care plan that meets your needs with your health care team.

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How to Talk to Your Doctor

This resource guides you on how to discuss your or a loved one’s obesity care, including questions to ask on treatment options and methods to guide your weight management journey.

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Watch Now
African American female physician smiling in front of her colleagues

Hear from Our Experts

Discover how to navigate and address obesity care confidently with our Ask the Experts video series. Topics include discussing obesity care with your doctor and personalized treatment options.

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Get Tips for a Healthier Lifestyle

This monthly email features information about fitness, nutrition, self-care, and tips on living your best, healthier life. Plus, you'll be the first to lean about new resources and content about obesity care. 

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Obesity-Related Podcasts

Listen to our collection of obesity-related podcasts

Special Edition: A Focus on Obesity, Part 1: A Shift in Perspective

This episode sheds light on the critical issue of obesity, offering both professional insights and personal experiences to foster a deeper understanding of the disease, aimed to inform, inspire, and encourage positive change in the way we view and care for obesity.

Special Edition: A Focus on Obesity, Part 2: Navigating Lifestyle Modifications and Treatment Innovations

This episode explores the latest in obesity care. Learn about lifestyle strategies, including eating habits, physical activity, and behavioral approaches, as well as groundbreaking medications offering new hope for those struggling with obesity.

Special Edition: A Focus on Obesity. Part 3: Talking to your Doctor About Obesity Treatment

This episode delves into approaches to discussing obesity care and treatments with your doctor and strategies for effectively planning this conversation.

Diabetes Food Hub

Healthy Eating

Healthy eating is important to feeling your best. Food nourishes you and affects your memories, culture, and community. Diabetes Food Hub® offers solutions to help you learn new skills to adapt family recipes, find better-for-you recipe swaps, build your shopping skills, look for important nutrition information, and help you take control of what and how you eat to feel better.

Browse thousands of healthy recipes that fit into multiple eating patterns like low-carb, Mediterranean, plant-based, kidney-friendly, and other options to meet your needs. 

FEATURED RECIPE

Blueberry Protein Muffins

Start your day with this nutritious five-ingredient blueberry protein muffin that’s easy to make and fits seamlessly into a balanced meal aimed at weight loss. All you need are bananas, quinoa, Greek yogurt, almond butter, and blueberries to make this convenient and healthy breakfast or snack option you can enjoy on the go! 

A plate of blueberry muffins made with diabetes friendly ingredients.
Overweight man in gym on weight bench with dumbbells at his feet

Exercise is a powerful tool in managing obesity, helping to boost metabolism and burn excess calories. Even moderate physical activity can help increase weight loss and in turn, increase energy and feelings of wellbeing.

Moving throughout your day will give you more energy; lower your risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease; and improve your blood glucose (blood sugar) and cholesterol levels. 

Breaking up sitting time with short bursts of movement every 30 minutes, such as walking in place for a few minutes, can reduce health risks and improve your overall wellbeing. 

Always speak to your health care provider before starting an exercise routine to accompany your treatment and management plan.

 

Physical Activity Video Series

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Warm Up Exercises
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Lower Body Exercises
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Upper Body Exercises
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Core Exercises
Hand holding pills

In combination with healthy lifestyle changes, medication can be a game-changer for obesity care. Anti-obesity medications work by making you feel less hungry and keeping you feeling full for longer. They can also help manage your blood glucose. Some common anti-obesity medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are:

  • Bupropion-naltrexone (Contrave)
  • Liraglutide (Saxenda)
  • Orlistat (Xenical, Alli)
  • Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia)
  • Semaglutide (Wegovy)
  • Setmelanotide (Imcivree)
  • Tirzepatide (Zepbound)

These medications all require a prescription from your health care provider, so at your next visit, discuss your obesity care goals and if one of these medications is right for you. 

Heavy middle-aged man talking to nurse in examination room

Surgeries that are a part of obesity care can help by either making your stomach smaller so you cannot eat as much, or by lowering the number of calories your body can absorb. 

The three most common types of obesity care surgeries performed in the U.S. are:

  • Gastric sleeve
  • Gastric bypass
  • Adjustable gastric band

These procedures can be helpful in treating and preventing various metabolic diseases linked to obesity, such as diabetes and fatty liver disease. However, surgery does require careful preparation before the surgery and continued, ongoing lifestyle changes afterwards to ensure success. 

Remember, even after you have surgery, you’ll still need to have an obesity care plan you create with your health care provider. This could be a combination of medication and managing lifestyle. 

Happy Brazilian lady listening to music with headphones

Living with obesity takes a toll on more than just your body—it’s emotional too. Dealing with daily tasks like moving throughout your day, juggling your appointments, and following an eating plan can be overwhelming and emotionally draining. 

Remember, you’re not alone in your health journey. Ask for help and resources from your health care team when you feel overwhelmed. They can refer you to behavioral health resources that will help you cope with emotional and mental challenges that can come with obesity.

There are also ways to simplify your busy routine. For example, using a food delivery service, setting virtual appointments, making simpler meals, and other tips can help lighten your mental load.

Let's Talk About Obesity

Everyone has a different journey when it comes to obesity. Hear from others about their weight management stories. 

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Helga's POV
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Betsy’s Weight Management Journey
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Jennifer's POV part 1
ADA Programs

Lifestyle Change Support

The ADA provides support for healthy living, including helping people achieve and maintain the optimal weight that is so critical to their overall wellbeing. 

Overweight young woman with headphones on browsing on her laptop computer

Removing Obesity Stigma

Destigmatizing obesity means embracing compassion and understanding over negative judgments. We want people to recognize obesity as a complex health issue that is affected by many different factors—including genetics, environment, and even a person’s financial status.

By creating an environment where people with obesity are and feel truly supported, we believe we can challenge harmful stereotypes and cultivate a culture of acceptance and inclusivity—so people are empowered to get the help they need.

Become an Advocate
Mixed group of smiling people.

Lessening the Impact

The impact of obesity goes beyond a person’s physical health. Not only is it associated with a number of serious conditions, including cancer, it can affect emotional and mental wellbeing. Depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem can lead to social isolation. Even people without obesity are impacted by increased health care costs and exacerbated health inequalities.

Through research and guidance, we can lessen the impact of obesity and improve the health of people everywhere. 
 

Smiling women jogging

Obesity Facts

You may have heard a few things about obesity that aren’t true—but we’re here to set the record straight.

Obesity puts you at higher risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and blood clots, which are major heart disease risk factors. Obesity also increases the risk of over 200 other health problems, including certain types of cancer. 

The signs, symptoms, and bodily processes of obesity classify it as a treatable disease.

Research does not show that people living with obesity have a low metabolism. People living with obesity normally use more energy when resting and also use more total energy throughout the day. 

Taking vitamins does not lead to weight loss.