ADA Symposium Focuses on New Guidelines for SOC of Overweight and Obesity

Around 110 million American adults are impacted by obesity and up to 53% of new cases of type 2 diabetes (T2D) are attributable to obesity. New research continues to evolve care and guidelines for managing obesity.

The Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity 2025 Updates symposium at the 2025 American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions, held June 20-23, in Chicago, Illinois, focused on the Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity—2025 guideline, the first of its kind, the first parts of which were published by the ADA in May 2025.1,2,3

The first published part was an introduction to the guidelines, outlining the ADA’s goal to promote personalized, equitable care and improve long-term outcomes for individuals with overweight or obesity by offering evidence-based recommendations for the screening, diagnosis, and management of obesity and its related complications, with a focus on complications and risk reduction over weight loss alone. The guidelines will be developed through systematic reviews, expert input, and public feedback, with recommendations graded by evidence quality. Annual updates are planned to reflect new research, and a strict conflict-of-interest policy will ensure transparency.2

The second part of the guideline to be published was “Weight stigma and bias”.3 These guidelines emphasized that all healthcare professionals and staff should receive ongoing training to recognize and address weight bias and stigma, starting early in medical education and continuing throughout clinical practice. Multicomponent training that combines educational content with hands-on learning is recommended to reduce both explicit and implicit biases. Clinical environments should be inclusive, equipped with appropriate furniture and equipment, and designed to protect patient privacy and dignity—particularly during anthropometric measurements. Communication must be respectful, person-centered, and nonjudgmental, with providers engaging patients in shared decision-making and aligning care with individual health goals. Furthermore, asking for permission before discussing weight and honoring patient preferences are essential to building trust.

"The ADA's Standards of Care in Diabetes guideline is the gold standard for diabetes care and management," Raveendhara Bannuru, MD, PhD, vice president of medical affairs at ADA and lead author of the guidelines, said in a statement.4 "The new Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity guidelines stand to yield significant impact and progress in patient care, and it's only just the beginning."

The symposium touched on the first part of the guidelines already published, with speakers emphasizing the importance of structured training for health care professionals to recognize and mitigate bias, alongside strategies for fostering inclusive, respectful clinical environments. Some strategies included adopting person-first language, using nonjudgmental communication, and promoting shared decision-making to support patient engagement.

In addition to reviewing current recommendations, speakers previewed upcoming updates to the guidelines, including a section dedicated to pharmacologic treatment of obesity. These guidelines will focus on integrating medications as part of a broader, patient-centered care model, with considerations around access, effectiveness, and long-term management.

REFERENCES

1. Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity 2025 Updates. Presented at: ADA 2025; June 20-23, 2025. Symposium

2. Bannuru RR, ADA Professional Practice Committee (PPC). Introduction and methodology: Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity—2025. BMJ Open Diabetes Res. 2025. 13:e004928. doi: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2025-004928

3. Bannuru RR, ADA PPC. Weight stigma and bias: standards of care in overweight and obesity—2025. BMJ Open Diabetes Res. 2025; 13:e004962. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjdrc-2025-004962

4. The American Diabetes Association Demonstrates Its Commitment to Curbing the Obesity Epidemic with Obesity Standards of Care. News release. ADA. June 20, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-american-diabetes-association-demonstrates-its-commitment-to-curbing-the-obesity-epidemic-with-obesity-standards-of-care-302486601.html