RADNOR, PA — New research comparing the views of primary care physicians and patients with obesity found broad acceptance of anti-obesity medications but significantly lower prescribing rates, highlighting ongoing barriers in obesity treatment despite growing clinical recognition of the disease.
The findings, presented at the 2026 Obesity Medicine Association Annual Conference, were recognized as a top poster award winner and were based on surveys of 100 primary care physicians and 742 patients with obesity.
The study, conducted by EfficientCME in collaboration with the Obesity Action Coalition and supported by an educational grant from Lilly, examined attitudes toward obesity diagnosis, treatment discussions, medication use and experiences with bias in healthcare settings.
One of the report’s most notable findings was a disconnect between physician perceptions of anti-obesity medications and their actual prescribing patterns.
While most surveyed physicians rated anti-obesity medications as highly effective, 43% reported prescribing them only 1% to 25% of the time. At the same time, 84% of patients indicated that their healthcare provider had discussed the medications with them.
The survey also identified differences in comfort levels surrounding conversations about weight.
Among physicians, 93% reported being moderately to extremely comfortable discussing weight management with patients. By comparison, only 64% of patients reported a similar level of comfort engaging in those discussions.
Researchers also found evidence that stigma remains a factor in obesity care.
Forty-three percent of surveyed patients reported that members of their healthcare team frequently use language they consider stigmatizing, suggesting that communication challenges continue to affect patient experiences despite broader awareness of obesity as a chronic disease.
The findings point to a potential gap between evolving clinical guidance and real-world treatment practices as healthcare providers increasingly incorporate obesity management into primary care.
“This research underscores the critical importance of aligning patient and clinician perspectives on obesity care,” Shari Tordoff, executive vice president of KnowFully Medical Education, said in a statement. “By illuminating where attitudes converge, and where meaningful gaps remain, we can design education that drives more compassionate, evidence-based, and effective treatment.”
The research team included obesity medicine specialists, patient advocates and medical education researchers from organizations including the Obesity Action Coalition, Knownwell, Geisinger Health System, Diabesity and EfficientCME.
Brian Moss of EfficientCME said the goal of the project was to contribute new insights beyond traditional continuing medical education efforts. “For us, the goal is always to create content that doesn’t already exist, adding something new to an area that can contribute to progress beyond just education,” he said.
The study adds to a growing body of research examining how physician attitudes, patient perceptions and communication practices influence the adoption of obesity treatments as demand for weight-management therapies continues to expand.
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