Executive Summary
Obesity+Health 2025
On May 20, DHNY’s Obesity+Health brought together leading voices from clinicians, entrepreneurs, health systems, strategists, and employers to discuss obesity as a complex chronic disease. Hosted by NYU Langone Health, the sessions highlighted innovations, challenges, and solutions across treatments, AI-powered personalization, and cost and population health management.
This Executive Summary is supported by LifeMD.
The Link Between Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease
In a session moderated by DHNY’s Bunny Ellerin, NYU Langone’s Holly Lofton, MD, Director of the Medical Weight Management Program, and cardiologist Nieca Goldberg, MD, discussed the strong connection between obesity and cardiovascular disease, particularly in women. They explained how obesity drives hypertension, heart failure—especially heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)—and vascular stiffness.
They also referenced recent trials like SELECT and SURMOUNT, which demonstrated significant reductions in cardiovascular event risk, including a 20% lower risk of second cardiac events with semaglutide. The panel underscored the importance of whole-person care that integrates medication, lifestyle support, and multidisciplinary collaboration among cardiologists, orthopedists, and bariatric surgeons. Notably, they observed that women are often more engaged in weight loss conversations and interested in GLP-1 therapies, frequently becoming catalysts for health behavior change within families.
How Employers Are Managing Rx Spend
In a discussion moderated by Borislava Marcheva, Head of Market Engagement at Red Cell Partners, panelists Kenny Cole, MD (Chief Medical Officer, Ochsner Health), Kim Duck (VP, Global Benefits, News Corp), and Carmilla Tan (Head of Benefits, CVS Health) shared their evolving strategies for managing the cost of GLP-1 medications.
All three employers currently cover GLP-1s for obesity, applying clinical guardrails such as BMI thresholds and comorbidities. Despite concerns about return on investment—particularly given short employee tenure—they view coverage as an investment in employee wellness and retention. To enhance outcomes and control costs, many employers are pairing GLP-1 coverage with utilization management tools, including digital programs, dietitian support, and behavioral interventions. The panelists also emphasized the importance of integrated, data-informed care pathways, especially in high-risk populations such as those in the South, including Louisiana.
What’s in the Treatment Pipeline
Louis Aronne, MD, FACP, DABOM, Director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, emphasized the revolutionary impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual/triple agonist therapies in treating obesity calling it “the golden age of obesity medications.” He noted their ability to deliver significant weight loss outcomes and reduce cardiometabolic risk factors, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Aronne likened the evolution of obesity pharmacotherapy to hypertension treatment 40 years ago and predicted the future availability of a variety of mechanisms and drug classes to better address diverse patient needs.
He explained that long-term use of medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide results in sustained weight loss and helps prevent diabetes in high-risk patients. New combination therapies and drugs in development, such as GLP-1/GIP/glucagon triagonists, promise even greater efficacy. However, he cautioned that discontinuing these medications often leads to weight regain, reinforcing the need for chronic treatment approaches. Importantly, he also noted emerging evidence of benefits beyond weight loss, including reduced cancer risk and changes in substance use behaviors.
AI in Weight Management and Maintenance
Dr. Shah highlighted how AI-powered “digital twin” models personalize treatment recommendations based on thousands of daily biometric inputs. These tools can predict individual metabolic responses to food, guide behavior change, and help prevent weight regain. According to Dr. O’Connor, motion-sensing AI is being used to support adherence to physical therapy and preserve muscle mass, a critical factor in preventing sarcopenia during weight loss.
Additionally, AI is improving operational efficiency, enhancing clinical documentation, and facilitating care coordination. However, the panel urged caution, emphasizing the importance of mitigating algorithmic bias, ensuring data privacy, and committing to transparency in deploying AI tools responsibly in care models.
This session, moderated by Priya Jaisinghani, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, featured Delphine Groll (Co-Founder & COO, Nabla), Mary O’Connor, MD (Chief Medical Officer & Co-Founder, Vori Health), and Lisa Shah, MD (Chief Medical Officer, Twin Health). The conversation focused on how AI is transforming chronic disease and obesity care.
The Impact of Mental Health on Weight Loss
Moderated by Rob Rebak, CEO of Calibrate, this panel featured Rachel Goldman, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine , Katherine Saunders, MD, EVP and Co-Founder of FlyteHealth, and Tom Tsang, MD, MPH, Chief Strategy Officer and Founder of Valera Health. The discussion emphasized the close relationship between mental health and obesity.
Panelists pointed out that conditions such as depression, anxiety, binge eating disorder, and ADHD are common among patients with obesity. Moreover, many medications prescribed for mental health conditions contribute to weight gain, complicating treatment plans. Behavioral therapies—like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness—are effective in supporting sustained weight loss, particularly when used in combination with pharmacotherapy. AI and digital tools are increasingly used to screen for mental health conditions, personalize behavioral nudges, and improve adherence to therapy. The speakers agreed on the necessity of longitudinal, personalized, and compassionate care to address both the emotional drivers and comorbidities associated with obesity.
