How has the weight management industry evolved in recent years?

Calibrate has been a trailblazer in obesity management, and the field has experienced significant change over the past five to seven years. Historically, the industry has been quite fragmented, with blurred lines between what was considered cosmetic and vanity-related versus what can be defined as true cardiometabolic condition management. Today, obesity management has emerged as a critical and increasingly recognized aspect of modern medicine.

In recent years, much of this evolution has been driven by the introduction of breakthrough medications, such as GLP-1s, which have served as powerful catalysts for change. However, while these drugs represent an important tool in the broader approach to weight and obesity management, they are not necessarily a "magic pill." Their efficacy, combined with increasing public awareness — not only of the medications but of obesity as a chronic disease — has fueled significant growth and interest in this area of medicine.

How does the prevalence of obesity in the U.S. workforce impact our overall healthcare system?

Obesity is linked to dozens of chronic conditions that can be costly to treat, profoundly impacting population health. Frankly, it’s not merely a condition but a multiplier. Obesity increases the risk, complexity, and cost of nearly every other chronic disease, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, hypertension, and sleep apnea.

For employers, who are the largest purchasers of healthcare in the United States, addressing obesity is both a responsibility and a business priority. It goes beyond just the medical costs, which are already high. Obesity and related conditions also lead to things like more missed workdays, lower productivity, and more disability claims. All of that adds up and puts a real strain on both employers and the healthcare system, which is still mostly set up to react to problems instead of preventing them. That’s why we’re seeing more employers starting to look for better solutions that can make a real difference, not just in terms of costs, but in helping their people stay healthier and more engaged.

Employers struggle to manage health costs for their employees. How are obesity-related healthcare costs influencing employer-sponsored health plans?

Employers have been inundated with premium increases over the past decade, and a larger portion of the workforce is considered clinically obese or overweight. Given the strides made in obesity and weight management solutions — including drug therapies combined with lifestyle interventions and coaching — many employers view these approaches as some of the few bright spots in U.S. healthcare. These comprehensive solutions offer the strong potential to not only improve healthcare outcomes but also bend the cost curve, which is driving significant interest.

As employers evaluate and roll out these strategies, the most effective approaches are integrated, accountable, and evidence-based. When partnering with employers, PBMs, and payers, the goal is to act as a clinical center of excellence. That means making sure the right person is on the right medication at the right time for the right amount of time. This results in phenomenal healthcare outcomes, resilient weight loss, and sustainable impact that ultimately drive down total cost of care.

As employers evaluate the return on investment for obesity treatments, how should they consider the costs and benefits of medications like GLP-1s?

Weight management medications, such as GLP-1s, are powerful tools but not stand-alone solutions. While they can deliver weight loss, sustainable lifestyle changes are necessary to prevent the weight from returning after the medication stops. Employers should assess return on investment (ROI) holistically, factoring in not just up-front medication costs but long-term benefits like reduced comorbidities, improved productivity, better employee retention, and recruitment — benefits that are increasingly valued in the workforce.

The strongest ROI comes from pairing medications with structured, supportive care that drives lasting metabolic improvements. Employers should partner with clinical centers of excellence to ensure optimal outcomes, side-effect management, and personalized support. This approach maximizes ROI by improving healthcare outcomes, lowering costs, and enhancing productivity. Though pharmacy costs may rise initially, employers will see significant long-term savings through fewer emergency department visits, surgeries, and chronic disease rates.

What should employers prioritize when choosing to partner with a weight management program?

Employers should partner with trusted clinical experts who act as both condition management partners and centers of excellence. These partners can help deliver strong healthcare outcomes while reducing total cost of care. Key considerations for selecting a partner include clinical credibility, measurable outcomes, and sustainable employee engagement — long sought after in workforce health benefits.

Effective solutions should integrate medication management with lifestyle and behavior change interventions, rather than focusing on one area or the other. By integrating these areas, employers can achieve resilient, sustainable weight loss that drives long-term benefits, including lower healthcare costs and improved health outcomes. Solutions should be evidence-based, personalized, and seamlessly integrated into broader benefits packages to maximize results.

What are the implications of healthcare provider consolidation on the cost and quality of services for chronic conditions?

Consolidation can drive efficiencies but also has potential downsides, such as higher costs and reduced access, if not managed carefully. For chronic conditions like obesity, the risk lies in overly standardized care that lacks personalization, which can undermine outcomes since each person’s journey is unique.

Obesity’s multi-nuanced impact on other chronic conditions further highlights the need for tailored approaches. Employers must ensure that partnerships with consolidated systems prioritize key elements such as data sharing, outcomes tracking, and accountability to maintain care quality. While network breadth is an advantage of consolidation, it’s equally important to ensure interaction across multiple phases of care to deliver the best health outcomes for the unique needs of each individual.

How can health plans be designed to maintain or improve care quality for chronic conditions amid provider consolidation?

Health plans are increasingly diving deeper into weight management, driven by the promise of improving long-term health outcomes and reducing costs, as well as the immediate demand for solutions today. To address these issues, plans are prioritizing value-based design, where providers are rewarded for outcomes rather than volume. This shift is evident not only in obesity and weight management but across most chronic conditions.

For chronic conditions, value-based care emphasizes access to multidisciplinary care teams, support for digital tools that enhance engagement, and coverage of high-impact treatments like GLP-1s within structured care frameworks. Customization and flexibility are essential, although they come with cost trade-offs. However, by focusing on configuration rather than one-size-fits-all models, plans can deliver impactful solutions that optimize investments and better meet the needs of chronic care populations.

Looking ahead, what are the emerging trends in obesity management that employers should monitor?

The obesity management landscape remains dynamic. There are ongoing innovations in medications — such as next-generation GLP-1s, combination therapies, and oral options — supported by a robust research pipeline. Equally important is the evolution of care delivery, including advancements in digital platforms, remote monitoring, wearable sensors, and AI-driven personalization to enhance patient engagement and scale treatment.

Given the prevalence of obesity and its significant impact on healthcare costs, technology will play a critical role in improving care delivery and expanding access. The market is also moving toward outcome-based pricing and value-based care, aligning incentives among employers, plans, condition management partners, and members. Additionally, we anticipate stronger regulatory and policy support for recognizing and treating obesity as a disease, shifting perspectives from lifestyle choice to clinical condition.

At Calibrate, we’re changing the way the world treats weight with a clinically proven, outcomes-guaranteed program that delivers sustained weight loss and long-term healthcare savings. Unlike GLP-1-only approaches that lead to weight regain and wasted investment, Calibrate integrates medication, expert clinical care, and personalized behavior change to drive lasting results.

With board-certified obesity medicine physicians prescribing in all 50 states, we provide nationwide, equitable access to effective obesity treatment at scale. Our risk-sharing model ensures that we’re aligned with employer goals — putting fees at risk and guaranteeing measurable outcomes.

By addressing obesity as the root cause of chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, and cardiovascular disease, Calibrate reduces overall healthcare costs while improving employee health and wellbeing. Employers don’t need to question whether GLP-1s work — they do. The real question is how to implement them in a way that is financially responsible and clinically effective. Calibrate is the only solution to pair GLP-1s with a clinically supported metabolic health program tailored to each individual that delivers sustained results and reduces costs long-term.

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This article is sponsored by Calibrate, an Advisory Board member organization. Representatives of Calibrate helped select the topics and issues addressed. Advisory Board experts wrote the article, maintained final editorial approval, and conducted the underlying research independently and objectively. Advisory Board does not endorse any company, organization, product or brand mentioned herein.

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