Obesity Care vs. Weight Loss: What’s the Difference?

The International Obesity Collaborative, a global alliance of professional organizations focused on improving obesity care, recently released a powerful consensus statement: obesity care and weight loss are not the same.

You might be wondering: What’s the difference? Isn’t all obesity care centered around weight loss? And wouldn’t weight loss be appropriate for someone with obesity? The answer may surprise you.

Let’s take a closer look at the International Obesity Collaborative’s new consensus statement, what it means for healthcare professionals, and how it could reshape the way we approach obesity treatment in clinical practice.

What is the International Obesity Collaborative (IOC)?

The International Obesity Collaborative (IOC) is a global initiative dedicated to addressing the disease of obesity at an international level. Comprised of 12 professional organizations, including the Obesity Medicine Association, the IOC works to raise awareness, share evidence-based best practices, and promote effective, equitable interventions for obesity care worldwide.

At its core, the IOC believes that all people living with obesity deserve compassionate, evidence-based care, free from stigma and shame.

What is Weight Loss?

Weight loss is the reduction of total body mass, typically resulting from a decrease in body fat, lean tissue such as muscle, or body water. It can occur intentionally through lifestyle changes or medical interventions, or unintentionally due to illness, stress, or metabolic changes.

To lose weight, the body must be in a calorie deficit, meaning energy expenditure exceeds the calories consumed through food and drink. People of all shapes and sizes can experience weight loss; weight loss is not always synonymous with health improvement.

Individuals living with obesity may—or may not—desire weight loss or be actively engaged in weight management strategies.

What is Obesity Care?

Obesity care delivered by qualified clinicians involves evidence-based interventions that address the comorbidities of obesity—such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia—and aim to improve overall well-being. Obesity care is focused on health, not just weight. Weight loss is only one potential outcome of obesity care.

Obesity as a Chronic Disease

What sets obesity care apart from general weight loss efforts is the fundamental recognition that obesity is a serious, relapsing chronic disease requiring long-term, ongoing management—just like any other chronic condition. The goal is to implement safe and effective, evidence-based treatments that support improved health outcomes.

The 4 Pillars of Obesity Treatment

The four core pillars of obesity treatment include: nutrition therapy, physical activity, behavioral modification, and medical interventions.

Nutrition Therapy: Encourages sustainable, calorie-conscious eating plans tailored to individual skills, culture, and lifestyle.
Physical Activity: Enhances metabolism and lean muscle mass; exercise plans are customized to the persons abilities and preferences.
Behavioral Modification: Addresses psychological and emotional drivers of obesity using tools like cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and habit change strategies.
Medical Interventions: Includes FDA-approved anti-obesity medications or surgical procedures to improve metabolic health

Obesity Care is Not Cosmetic

Obesity is no longer viewed as a cosmetic issue or merely the result of overeating and a lack of self-control. Yet, insurance coverage often restricts access to effective, evidence-based obesity care, undermining the health of those affected.

National policies and insurance frameworks have not kept pace with advances in clinical science and the growing recognition of obesity as a complex, chronic disease.

Does Obesity Care Include Weight Loss?

Sometimes, but not always. Comprehensive obesity care is focused on improving a person’s overall health and quality of life, not just reducing the number on the scale. Weight loss may be part of the treatment plan, particularly when it helps reduce health risks, but it is not the only or primary measure of success.

When clinically appropriate, weight loss can play an important role, especially if it leads to improvements in blood pressure, blood sugar, or cholesterol levels; reduces symptoms like joint pain or sleep apnea; or helps prevent or reverse conditions such as type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, or cardiovascular disease. The goal is to support long-term health, not simply to achieve a lower weight.

Key Takeaways

Obesity care is not the same as weight loss. True obesity care prioritizes health outcomes, not just the number on the scale. It’s about treating the whole person with compassion, using evidence-based tools that go beyond weight to improve overall well-being.

References

Martínez-Gómez MG, Roberts BM. Metabolic adaptations to weight loss: a brief review. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2022;36(10):2970-2981. doi:10.1519/JSC.0000000000003991
The four pillars of obesity treatment. Obesity Medicine Association. https://obesitymedicine.org/about/four-pillars/. Accessed June 15, 2025
Disease of obesity. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. https://asmbs.org/patients/disease-of-obesity/. Accessed June 15, 2025.