New Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity Guidelines Released at American Diabetes Association's 85th Scientific Sessions

At a time when over 110 million American adults are affected by obesity, the Obesity Association, a division of the American Diabetes Association, has published the first clinical guidance on Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity, titled Weight Stigma and Bias: Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity-2025, in collaboration with BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care. The development comes as a response to the growing need for evidence-based guidelines to inform care, particularly in light of the alarming statistic that up to 53% of new cases of type 2 diabetes are attributed to obesity annually. The Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity 2025 Updates symposium at the American Diabetes Association's 85th Scientific Sessions in Chicago highlighted key insights on physician guidelines for weight stigma and bias, including the importance of training for healthcare professionals, creating inclusive clinical environments, and person-centered communication.

Key Takeaways:

• The Obesity Association and American Diabetes Association have released the first clinical guidance on Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity, titled Weight Stigma and Bias: Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity-2025.
• The guidelines aim to provide evidence-based recommendations to inform care, particularly in addressing weight stigma and bias in healthcare settings.
• The Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity 2025 Updates symposium highlighted the importance of training for healthcare professionals on weight stigma and bias, including creating inclusive clinical environments and person-centered communication.
• Up to 53% of new cases of type 2 diabetes are attributed to obesity annually, emphasizing the need for comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines.
• The Obesity Association is a division of the American Diabetes Association, and the guidelines were published in collaboration with BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care.
• The clinical guidelines may be expanded to include a potential section for pharmacologic treatment, as expressed by researchers during the symposium.
• The recent development aims to bring attention to the importance of addressing weight stigma and bias in healthcare settings.

Statistics:

• Approximately 110 million American adults are impacted by obesity.
• Up to 53% of new cases of type 2 diabetes are attributed to obesity annually.

Sources:

• "Weight Stigma and Bias: Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity-2025" published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care
• Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity 2025 Updates symposium at the American Diabetes Association's 85th Scientific Sessions in Chicago.