obesity

A dark haired with the word "FOCUS" stamped on the back of her hand

Focused Behavioral Counseling for Patients on GLP-1s

Dr. Robert Kushner May 20, 2026 No Comments

In my 40+ years as an obesity medicine physician specialist, my entire counseling philosophy and weight management program approach have been rooted in behavior change research related to diet, physical activity, sleep, stress and body image. Obesity medication and bariatric surgery were prescribed as an adjunct to lifestyle counseling. This traditional paradigm is now being

Managing Persistence Problems -Starting and Stopping GLP-1 Medications

Dr. Robert Kushner May 4, 2026 No Comments

Most people don’t like taking medications – especially longterm. In fact, medication fatigue where individuals stop taking a new medication, like a statin or blood pressure pill, is commonplace. But the number of individuals stopping GLP-1 medications is especially concerning as studies show that over 50% of GLP-1 users discontinue the medication by 1 year

A woman's hands in the shape of a heart laying overtop her pregnant belly

Can Treating Obesity Improve Women’s Health and Fertility?

Dr. Robert Kushner April 19, 2026 No Comments

I recently had the exciting opportunity to educate gynecologists and fertility specialists throughout India on the role of semaglutide in women’s reproductive health. This allowed me to take a deep dive into the research and medical data answering the question: can obesity treatments improve women’s health outcomes and fertility rates? The answer is a resounding

Droplet of water dripping into a rippling puddle

Ripple Effects of GLP-1 Obesity Medications on Society

Dr. Robert Kushner March 17, 2026 No Comments

The effects of game-changing GLP-1 medications on individuals and society was the topic of my recent keynote address at the Northwestern University Alumni Association event in Naples, Florida. Individuals on GLP-1 medications are changing how they eat, shop, live, play and get their healthcare and companies are taking notice. We usually think of big tech

The word, "TEAM" being held up by colorful little figures of people

Team-Based Obesity Care – in the Era of Highly Effective Medications

Dr. Robert Kushner February 14, 2026 No Comments

Obesity care is a team sport. One clinician does not have to shoulder all the responsibility nor is expected to have the necessary expertise in all aspects of care. And yet, in some circles, you may think that team-based obesity care is a thing of the past as individuals get prescriptions for obesity medications with

A hand holding the words, RESPECT, RESPECT, RESPECT

Obesity – One of the Most Misunderstood Diseases in Medicine

Dr. Robert Kushner December 14, 2025 No Comments

Despite the many recent breakthroughs in obesity medicine, misunderstandings about the disease of obesity persist among patients, clinicians and insurance providers. The disease of obesity is a complex, relapsing condition that requires multimodal therapies. It is not a personal choice or a failure of willpower. And yet people with obesity can be blamed and shamed

Dr. Kushner smiling while giving a speaking presentation

Educating Clinicians on Providing Obesity Care

Dr. Robert Kushner August 24, 2025 No Comments

In the 40+ years I’ve been practicing, recent clinician interest in providing obesity care has soared off the charts. I see it in the varied healthcare professional groups I speak to at conferences and through lectures and podcasts. Though the exciting new obesity medications may be what spurred initial interest, clinicians are also seeking guidance

Hands fitting together two white puzzle pieces

Weight Management Care that Fits

Dr. Robert Kushner June 16, 2025 No Comments

As a leader in obesity medicine, I have been passionate about educating clinicians on the best practices of providing care to their patients who are living with obesity. Toward that end, I’m excited to share that I have a new book for healthcare professionals coming soon, titled Patient-Centered Weight Management: The Six Factor Professional Program

Rx symbol created by various medications being lined into the shape of the letters

New Treatments for Often Unrecognized Health Complications of Obesity

Dr. Robert Kushner June 11, 2025 No Comments

Recently published papers and news articles are covering exciting findings related to obesity complications, co-morbidities and treatments. There are over 200 such complications that are related to obesity. Three of the complications may go unnoticed but have been shown to improve with treatment by one of the new highly effective obesity medications: Sleep apnea, a

New Research, New Reasons to Discuss Obesity Medications with Your Health Care Provider

Dr. Robert Kushner March 18, 2025 No Comments

It’s no secret that the new, highly effective injectable obesity medications have impressive weight loss benefits. This has led millions of people who struggle with weight to ask their health care professionals whether or not they are candidates for taking these new medications. But we’ve known for a long time that there is more to