The Evolution of Obesity Care: What Have We Learned in the GLP-1 Era?

In this episode of The Pulse in 15, Mary reconnects with Dr. Sean Hashmi, a leader in Lifestyle and Obesity Medicine at Kaiser Permanente, to explore how obesity treatment has evolved since their first discussion in 2022. At that time, GLP-1 medications were just beginning to gain attention. Today, they have transformed conversations around obesity management, healthcare costs, long-term outcomes, and employer health plan strategy. Dr. Hashmi shares what real-world experience has taught us about sustainable success, long-term use, and medication discontinuation, while providing practical insights for employers evaluating obesity care programs.

Key Takeaways

• Understand how obesity treatment has evolved since GLP-1 medications entered mainstream clinical practice.
• Explore what providers are seeing regarding long-term outcomes, sustainability, and measures of success beyond weight loss.
• Gain insight into whether patients can successfully transition off GLP-1 medications and maintain their results.
• Identify the key elements employers should consider when developing an obesity management strategy that extends beyond medication coverage alone.