Recognizing Obesity as a Chronic Disease

Target Audience

The educational design of this activity addresses the needs of primary care providers (PCPs), obstetrician gynecologists (OBGYNs), functional medicine practitioners, and pediatricians involved in the treatment of patients with obesity.

Program Overview

Obesity, a chronic disease with distinct pathophysiology, has traditionally been diagnosed using body mass index (BMI). However, it is widely recognized that BMI alone is an inadequate diagnostic tool. In this episode, Dr. Robert Kushner and Dr. Charles Vega discuss the 2025 recommendations from The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission, which redefine obesity classification. They introduce the concepts of “clinical” and “preclinical” obesity, highlighting new diagnostic criteria that go beyond BMI to assess adiposity and functional impairment. Learn how you can apply these updates to improve obesity diagnosis and patient care.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Recognize obesity as a chronic disease and how it is clinically defined

Physician Accreditation Statement

Integritas Communications is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physician Credit Designation

Integritas designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurse Practitioner Continuing Education

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Accreditation Standards of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) through the joint providership of Global Education Group and Integritas Communications. Global Education Group is accredited by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners as an approved provider of nurse practitioner continuing education. Provider number: 110121. This activity is approved for 0.25 contact hours (which includes 0.0 hour of pharmacology).

Integritas Contact Information

For information about the accreditation (ACCME credit) of this program, please contact Integritas at info@exchangecme.com.

Global Contact Information

For information about the approval (AANP credit) of this program, please contact Global at 303-395-1782 or cme@globaleducationgroup.com.

Instructions to Receive Credit

In order to receive credit for this activity, the participant must score 100% on the posttest and complete the program evaluation.

Fee Information& Refund/Cancellation Policy

There is no fee for this educational activity.

Disclosures of Relevant Financial Relationships

Integritas Communications and Global Education Group (Global) adhere to the policies and guidelines, including the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited CE, set forth to providers by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and all other professional organizations, as applicable, stating those activities where continuing education credits are awarded must be balanced, independent, objective, and scientifically rigorous. All persons in a position to control the content of an accredited continuing education program provided by Integritas and Global are required to disclose all financial relationships with any ineligible company within the past 24 months to Integritas and Global.  All financial relationships reported are identified as relevant and mitigated by Global in accordance with the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited CE in advance of delivery of the activity to learners. The content of this activity was vetted by Integritas and Global to assure objectivity and that the activity is free of commercial bias. 

All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

The faculty have the following relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies:

Charles P. Vega, MD, FAAFP: Consulting Fees: Boehringer Ingelheim, Exact Sciences Corp.

Robert F Kushner, MD, MS: Consulting Fees: Altimmune, Boehringer Ingelheim, Currax, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Regeneron, Structure, Weight Watchers

The planners and managers at Integritas Communications and Global Education Group have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. Integritas Communications and Global Education Group (Global) do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. 

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization associated with this activity. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer

Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of patient conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.