OMA 2026 Recap: Defeating the Stigma of Obesity

The Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) Annual Conference 2026, in San Diego, California, featured >80 scientific and educational sessions covering everything from nutrition and physical activity to clinical pharmacology and practice management for obesity care. From major steps forward in incretin therapies to the release of the updated OMA Obesity Algorithm, this year’s meeting brought tons of new data to the forefront of endocrinology care.

In the first episode of a 5-part HCPLive Special Report, Raghuveer Vedala, MD, and Shagun Bindlish, MD, discuss the most impactful headlines from OMA 2026 – and how these findings can be applied to everyday obesity management and treatment.

Vedala and Bindlish highlight emerging obesity treatments, new GLP-1 data, management considerations in conditions such as MASH, and the evolving understanding of obesity care. They begin by emphasizing that advances in medications and clinical research must be paired with compassionate, patient-centered care. Bindlish focuses on weight stigma as a critical issue, noting that bias among healthcare professionals and internalized stigma among patients can significantly affect outcomes. She describes how stigma contributes to avoidance of care, worsening disease, and what conference presenters referred to as “therapeutic injustice,” where structural barriers and coverage limitations prevent patients from accessing effective treatments.

The discussion highlights that weight stigma is not merely an emotional concern but can have measurable physiological consequences, contributing to stress, metabolic dysfunction, and chronic disease burden. Bindlish shares examples of patients who experienced meaningful improvements with GLP-1 therapies but faced renewed uncertainty when medication coverage was lost, illustrating how access barriers can reverse progress and reinforce feelings of failure. The speakers emphasize that clinicians must advocate for patients by addressing prior authorization challenges, documenting clinical need, and engaging in policy efforts to improve access to obesity treatments.

Both experts call for healthcare professionals to recognize obesity as a chronic disease requiring both medical intervention and empathy. Vedala and Bindlish stress that awareness alone is insufficient; clinicians must actively challenge stigma, support equitable treatment access, and ensure that patients feel supported rather than blamed throughout their care journey.