Pharmacological treatment of obesity and its complications from the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO)

Authored by Open Medicine, published on 2026-09-05 02:47:39.0

Published in Nature Article: Framework for the pharmacological treatment of obesity and its complications from the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO)McGowan, B., Ciudin, A., Baker, J.L. et al. Framework for the pharmacological treatment of obesity and its complications from the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO). Nat Med 31, 3229–3232 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03765-w

  1. Obesity management medication decision
    This is the overarching clinical framework for selecting anti-obesity pharmacotherapy and linking it to obesity complications; it is directly supported by the cited EASO consensus framework and corroborated by major contemporary obesity guidelines.
    • Body weight management in obesity
      • No complications present
        Goal to treat: Fat mass accumulation to prevent dysfunction in non-adipose organs
        • Total body weight loss at endpoint
          • Treatment options
            * Tirzepatide * Semaglutide * Phen-Topir Liraglutide/ * Naltr-Bupr/ * Orlistat Scientific evidence published up to 31 January 2025. Many options not available.
    • Complications management in obesity
      • Complications present
        Goal to treat: Reverse dysfunction in non-adipose organs
        • Fat mass diseases: Altered and pathological mechanical forces
          • KOA*
            * The available number of trials for this category limits the reliability of the analysis performed and clinical judgment is recommended.
            • Semaglutide or Liraglutide
          • OSAS*
            * The available number of trials for this category limits the reliability of the analysis performed and clinical judgment is recommended.
            • Tirzepatide
        • Sick fat diseases: Deranged endocrine and immune responses
          • Prediabetes
            • Normoglycemia restoration
              • Tirzepatide/ Semaglutide, Liraglutide or Orlistat
          • Type 2 diabetes
            • Diabetes remission
              • Tirzepatide/ Semaglutide, Liraglutide or Naltr-Bupr
          • CVD*
            * The available number of trials for this category limits the reliability of the analysis performed and clinical judgment is recommended.
            • MACE
              • Semaglutide or Naltr-Bupr
          • Heart failure*
            * The available number of trials for this category limits the reliability of the analysis performed and clinical judgment is recommended.
            • Hospitalization for heart failure
              • Tirzepatide/ Semaglutide
          • MASLD*
            * The available number of trials for this category limits the reliability of the analysis performed and clinical judgment is recommended.
            • MASH remission
              • Tirzepatide or Semaglutide
tosprivacyA Review of Current Guidelines for the Treatment of ObesityPharmacological management of obesity: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guidelineFramework for the pharmacological treatment of obesity and its complications from the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO)Framework for the pharmacological treatment of obesity and its complications from the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO): 2026 update