Highlights from OMA 2025: What’s Really Changing in Obesity Care

This year’s Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) Spring Summit in Washington, D.C., brought together leading voices in obesity care—and raised the bar for integrating body composition, GLP-1 therapy, and whole-person health. From Capitol Hill advocacy to case-based insights and cutting-edge muscle science, one message came through loud and clear: obesity care is evolving, and so must our tools, language, and clinical priorities. Here’s what stood out:

Why Exercise Still Matters—Even When the Scale Doesn’t Budge with John Jakicic, PhD

Dr. John Jakicic brought his energy to the main stage with a compelling reminder: exercise isn’t about the number on the scale—it’s about what’s happening inside the body. Drawing from decades of research and the latest ACSM consensus statements, Jakicic emphasized that while physical activity doesn’t always enhance weight loss or fully preserve lean mass, it consistently improves metabolic health markers like insulin sensitivity, cardiorespiratory fitness, strength, and muscle quality.

What stood out the most? His bold call to reframe physical activity as a vital sign, not a calorie-burn. Especially in this era of GLP-1s and metabolic surgery, exercise delivers physiological benefits that pharmacotherapy alone cannot match.

He also challenged the fixation on preserving every ounce of lean mass:

“It’s not about clinging to total lean mass—it’s about building stronger, healthier muscle—even during weight loss.”

And he closed with an urgent call for access and inclusion: work with qualified professionals like ACSM-certified clinical exercise physiologists, and ensure patients of all sizes and abilities have safe, supportive spaces to move their bodies.

Bottom line: movement is medicine—let’s prescribe it that way.

Complex Obesity Cases: When “Perfect” Results Should Raise a Flag with Ethan Lazarus, MD

In a dynamic, case-based session, Dr. Ethan Lazarus showed us that even “ideal” outcomes deserve a closer look. Walking through real patient scenarios, he explored how to approach unexpected side effects, choose between GLP-1s and orals, and integrate surgical and medical care.

One standout story involved a patient whose seca body composition results showed no lean mass loss—only fat loss. While it looked like a home run, Lazarus knew something didn’t add up.

“If a patient is only losing fat and not any lean mass, especially on a GLP-1, that’s a red flag.”

Digging deeper, he uncovered significant hair loss and an undisclosed testosterone pellet therapy—revealing how body comp data can prompt critical clinical conversations.

Key takeaways:

• Trust the data—but question it when it seems too perfect
• Revisit medication and hormone history often
• Use body composition as a conversation starter, not just a report

📺 This case echoed themes from our joint webinar: Beyond BMI: Setting Compelling Goals by Understanding body composition and clinical case studies

Muscle Safety on GLP-1 Therapy: What Clinicians Need to Know with Christos S. Katsanos, PhD

One of the most talked-about sessions of OMA 2025 came from Dr. Christos Katsanos, who addressed the growing concern over muscle loss with GLP-1 receptor agonists. His talk, “Muscle Safety: Addressing GLP-1 Agonist Concerns with Exercise & Nutrition,” delivered science-backed clarity and practical strategies for preserving muscle health during weight loss.

Highlights:

• Muscle is metabolically essential, making up ~40% of body weight and 20–25% of energy expenditure
• GLP-1s can cause up to 25% lean mass loss with weight loss—about half of which may be skeletal muscle
• This accelerates age-related sarcopenia, especially in adults over 40
• Muscle quality (not just quantity) matters: excess intramuscular fat reduces function and health outcomes

Clinical Implications:

• Aim for ≥1.2 g/kg/day of high-quality protein, spaced across meals. Prioritize EAAs—especially leucine
• Resistance training is more effective than aerobic exercise in preserving muscle mass and quality
• Monitor body composition with tools like seca

“If you’re not seeing any lean mass loss, be skeptical—true weight loss includes some.”

This talk echoed the call for individualized, proactive care—and reinforced why muscle monitoring must be part of every GLP-1 protocol.

As obesity care continues to evolve, these sessions reminded us that numbers on a scale tell only part of the story. Whether it’s protecting muscle, spotting red flags, or reframing movement as medicine, OMA 2025 made it clear: we need to look deeper, think critically, and support patients holistically. Let’s keep challenging assumptions, embracing better tools, and driving obesity care forward—together.