I’m writing a story for Medscape about why some physicians continue to prioritize lifestyle change over medications as the first-line treatment for obesity, despite growing use of pharmacologic options like GLP-1s. I am seeking responses from practicing, US-based medical doctors (MD or DO) who treat obesity and emphasize behavioral or lifestyle interventions over medications or surgery. To be considered, you must be an MD or DO licensed and practicing in the U.S., specialize in a field relevant to obesity treatment (e.g., internal medicine, family medicine, endocrinology, obesity medicine), have your credentials verified. Please include your medical degree (MD or DO), specialty, current workplace, clinic, or hospital affiliation, city and state where you practice, and state(s) where you are licensed. Questions: Why do you prioritize lifestyle changes over medications or surgery as the first-line treatment for obesity? Do you see obesity primarily as a lifestyle-driven condition, a disease, or both—and how does that shape your approach? How do you interpret or apply the current guidelines from the AHA/ACC/TOS and the Obesity Medicine Association, especially as they increasingly recommend medications and multimodal strategies? What kind of pushback, if any, do you get from patients who expect or ask for anti-obesity medications like GLP-1s? Do you ever prescribe those medications? If so, under what circumstances—and if not, why not? Do you feel pressure from colleagues, patients, or payers to shift away from lifestyle-first care? How do you navigate that? What keeps you committed to this approach, especially in a system that increasingly rewards quicker or pharmacologic solutions?

posted6/23/2025

deadline6/25/2025

processing

published9/23/2025