Introduction
Rising global rates of obesity are driving clinicians, researchers, public health officials, payers, and patients to seek new strategies to mitigate the disease’s clinical, economic, and societal burdens. The field of endocrinology has been a key contributor to recent therapeutic advances: endocrine researchers discovered GLP-1 receptor agonists, which the Society notes provide highly effective treatment for one in eight people worldwide with obesity and are under ongoing study for broader applications.
The Endocrine Society has formally recognized obesity as a central organizational pillar and this month introduced major new initiatives that illustrate its leadership in the obesity space. Two linked efforts—the launch of a dedicated Center on Obesity and the release of a new Scientific Statement—are intended to centralize resources, guide practice, and identify research priorities in the evolving era of obesity medicines.
The Endocrine Society’s Center on Obesity is designed to leverage member expertise to accelerate understanding and treatment of obesity. The Center’s online presence serves as a central access point for Society resources and activities related to obesity research, clinical care, education, and advocacy.
Key content and services available through the Center’s digital home include seminal Society resources such as the new Scientific Statement and a Clinical Practice Guideline that will be updated soon. The Center will also list meetings, webinars, conferences, awards, and funding opportunities tied to obesity care and research. Clinicians and researchers can find the latest obesity-related articles from the Society’s journals alongside news items and videos featuring Endocrine Society experts commenting on developments in obesity science and care.
Advocacy is another stated focus of the Center. The Society will use this platform to support initiatives aimed at improving access to anti-obesity medications and securing funding for obesity research. The Center will collect and amplify the Society’s policy and advocacy work as it pertains to insurance coverage and research investment.
The Center is intended to be a living resource. As discussions evolve within the Society’s Obesity Special Interest Group and at events such as Clinical Endocrinology Update 2026 and the Obesity Fellows Program, the Center will incorporate additional materials. The Society plans to distribute new Center content through its newsletters, social media channels, and EndoForum to increase reach among clinicians, researchers, and trainees.
Coinciding with the Center’s launch, the Endocrine Society published a Scientific Statement titled “Obesity Science, Research Gaps, and Opportunities in the New Era of Obesity Medicines.” This statement was developed by a panel led by Daniel Drucker, MD, and the panel reviewed more than 200 studies to inform the document.
The Scientific Statement serves several purposes. It summarizes recent scientific progress—particularly advances emerging after the introduction of GLP-1 receptor agonists—and highlights where additional research is needed. The statement explores prospective research directions for developing and refining obesity treatments and emphasizes the importance of understanding heterogeneity in individual response to therapies.
A notable focus of the statement is measurement: it examines approaches to evaluating obesity treatment success beyond changes in total body weight. By encouraging broader and more nuanced outcome assessment, the statement aims to align research and clinical practice with patient-centered goals and physiologic markers of benefit.
Finally, the Scientific Statement is intended as an evidence base for advocacy and policy work. The Endocrine Society will use the statement’s findings to support requests for research funding and to promote evidence-based policies that expand access to effective obesity treatments.
Ongoing Society Activities and Integration
The Center on Obesity and the Scientific Statement complement existing Society activities related to obesity. The Endocrine Society’s Obesity Special Interest Group provides a forum for members to discuss breakthroughs and clinical advances. The Society’s journals and meetings continue to showcase contemporary obesity research and best clinical practices.
Continuing education opportunities are available through the Society’s Center for Learning, which offers courses relevant to obesity care, and through events such as the Obesity Fellows Conference. The Society’s advocacy portfolio already includes actions such as calling on Congress to provide permanent coverage for the newer generation of effective medications.
Taken together, these new offerings and ongoing programs reinforce the Endocrine Society’s commitment to advancing obesity science, improving clinical care, and informing policy. The Society intends to expand and update Center resources as new evidence and conversations emerge, maintaining a central role in coordinating research, education, and advocacy in the evolving obesity treatment landscape.