Is obesity taken as seriously as other diseases?

What is the most common barrier for HCP-patient discussions about weight?

What motivates patients to manage their weight?

With the upcoming release of the inaugural State of Weight and Health Report^™, we are sharing insights into these questions and many more. This first-of-its-kind report by Novo Nordisk explores weight at the intersection of health, lifestyle, and culture, aiming to uncover current thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions about obesity from adults who live with it, the healthcare professionals who care for them, and the general population.

The State of Weight and Health Report^™ will be released annually, with each issue shedding light on a different facet of obesity in America.

What the year one data said

A sneak preview of survey findings showed that¹

50%

of primary care practitioners (n=201/405) refer patients with obesity to obesity medicine specialists less often than they do for other conditions. 13% (n=53/405) report that they never make such referrals.^*

62%

of healthcare professionals (n=438/709) reported that the most common barrier to patients discussing weight management is feelings of discouragement from prior weight loss attempts.^*

77%

of healthcare professionals (n=546/709) reported "concern for overall health" as a motivator for patients with obesity to manage their weight.^*

^*Statistics above are based on a May 2025 survey created and fielded by Novo Nordisk, which evaluated responses from 709 healthcare providers, 1016 people living with obesity (including 124 current obesity medication users), and 762 adults representative of the US general population (not living with obesity and not currently taking obesity medications).