OMA 2026 Recap: Pediatrics, Retention, and Lifestyle Changes in Obesity

The Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) Annual Conference 2026, in San Diego, California, featured >80 scientific and educational sessions covering everything from nutrition, physical activity, 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 fifth and final episode of a 5-part HCPLive Special Report, Raghuveer Vedala, MD, and Shagun Bindlish, MD, discuss the most impactful headlines to come out of OMA 2026 – as well as how these findings can be applied to everyday obesity management and treatment.

The discussion shifts to evolving approaches to pediatric and adolescent obesity management alongside broader shifts in how clinicians define treatment success. The speakers note that while off-label use of tirzepatide is being seen in adolescents, longer-term pediatric trial data are still pending, with expectations that more definitive evidence may emerge in the coming years. In contrast, currently approved therapies for adolescents include Wegovy and Saxenda (for ages 12 and older). A key theme is the reframing of success in obesity care: rather than focusing solely on scale-based targets, clinicians are encouraged to recognize meaningful clinical improvements—such as better blood pressure control, reduction in diabetes risk, improved sleep apnea, and enhanced overall function—even when weight loss is modest (e.g., 5–10%).

The speakers emphasize that weight plateaus are expected and reflect physiologic “set point” dynamics rather than treatment failure. They stress the importance of individualized expectations, avoiding overly restrictive eating patterns that may lead to nutritional deficiencies or unhealthy relationships with food, and instead prioritizing sustainable dietary habits, smaller balanced meals, and careful titration of therapy to manage side effects. In older adults, the discussion shifts further toward preserving lean mass and function, highlighting the need for assessments such as DEXA scanning, grip strength, gait speed, and structured resistance exercise to prevent sarcopenia and maintain independence while treating obesity.

Finally, the conversation broadens to a systems-level perspective on obesity care. GLP-1–based therapies are framed as tools that support behavior change rather than replacements for lifestyle foundations such as nutrition quality, physical activity, and a healthy relationship with food. The speakers underscore that success should ultimately be measured by improvements in quality of life and functional capacity—“making the immobile mobile”—rather than weight alone. They also highlight the impact of stigma and access barriers, noting that bias can influence physiology and that loss of coverage can undermine patients’ belief in recovery. Resources from the Obesity Medicine Association are recommended to support clinicians in adopting evidence-based, patient-centered obesity management approaches.