Houston Methodist 3rd Annual Essentials of Obesity Symposium 2026

Obesity Medicine • GLP-1 Therapy • Bariatric Surgery • Endoscopic Obesity Treatment • Nutrition • Exercise • Weight Management

The Houston Methodist 3rd Annual Essentials of Obesity Symposium 2026 provides a comprehensive, evidence-based update on the evolving management of obesity, bringing together medical, nutritional, behavioral, pharmacologic, surgical, and endoscopic approaches to patient care.

Held on August 21, 2026, the symposium addresses the significant evolution in obesity and metabolic disease management following updated recommendations from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO).

The program focuses on translating current evidence into practical clinical care, including obesity assessment, body composition, nutrition, physical activity, behavioral strategies, anti-obesity medications, GLP-1 therapies, bariatric surgery, endoscopic obesity interventions, digital health, artificial intelligence, appetite regulation, primary care management, and multidisciplinary treatment planning.

Course Details

• Course: 3rd Annual Essentials of Obesity Symposium
• Provider: Houston Methodist
• Year: 2026
• Date: August 21, 2026
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Original Format: In-Person and Virtual
• Primary Focus: Obesity Medicine and Weight Management
• Language: English
• Course Directors: Nabil Tariq, MD, FACS, FASMBS; Vadim Sherman, MD, FACS, FRCSC

Target Audience

The symposium is designed for healthcare professionals involved in the evaluation, treatment, and ongoing management of patients with obesity.

The official target audience includes:

• Physicians
• Weight Management Staff
• Registered Dietitians (RD)
• Registered Nurses (RN)
• Physical Therapists (PT)
• Occupational Therapists (OT)
• Patient Care Assistants (PCA)
• Inpatient Care Teams

The program is also highly relevant to:

• Primary Care Physicians
• Internal Medicine Physicians
• Endocrinologists
• Obesity Medicine Specialists
• Bariatric and General Surgeons
• Nurse Practitioners
• Physician Associates
• Dietitians and Nutrition Professionals
• Residents and Fellows
• Multidisciplinary Weight Management Teams

Program Overview

In 2022, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) issued updated guidelines replacing criteria that had largely been based on the 1991 National Institutes of Health recommendations for bariatric surgery.

Since those earlier guidelines were released, the science and clinical management of obesity, metabolic disease, and bariatric surgery have expanded substantially.

The 2026 symposium addresses evolving criteria, treatment thresholds, pharmacologic therapies, surgical and endoscopic procedures, body composition, behavioral interventions, nutrition, physical activity, obesity-related comorbidities, and coordinated multidisciplinary care.

The goal is to help clinicians apply current evidence to patients with obesity across both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Learning Objectives

Participants should be able to:

• Identify challenges faced by patients with obesity and develop strategies, within their professional scope, to better address patient needs.
• Identify opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration to provide more robust, comprehensive, and coordinated care aimed at improving disease management and patient outcomes.
• Utilize the most up-to-date information to provide optimal evidence-based treatment options to patients with obesity or met-s.

Official Program Topics

Session 1 – Assessment, Nutrition, Exercise & Behavioral Management

Beyond the Numbers: Rethinking Metrics for Obesity Assessment and Role of Body Composition

Aman Ali, MD

Explores approaches to obesity assessment beyond body weight alone, with emphasis on body composition and clinically meaningful measurements.

Evidence-Based Nutrition Care in Obesity Management: Current Trends, Interventions, and Patient Communication Best Practices

Wynnifred Hoodis, MS

Reviews evidence-based nutritional strategies, contemporary interventions, and effective patient communication in obesity care.

What Is the Least Amount of Exercise I Can Get Away With?

Vadim Sherman, MD

Examines practical approaches to physical activity and exercise recommendations for patients undergoing obesity treatment.

Unlocking Movement: Behavioral & Psychological Approaches to Physical Activity

Brandon Jay, CEPT

Focuses on behavioral and psychological factors influencing physical activity adherence and long-term lifestyle change.

Dietary Guidance for Patients on GLP-1s: Enhancing Adherence and Minimizing Bone and Muscle Loss

Monica Reinagel, MS

Addresses nutrition for patients receiving GLP-1-based treatment, including dietary adherence and strategies aimed at preserving muscle and bone health.

Session 2 – Pharmacotherapy in Obesity

Pharmacotherapy in Obesity Part I – Old Tools, New Insights: Revisiting Traditional Anti-Obesity Medications

Eleonora Avenatti, MD

Reviews established anti-obesity medications and their contemporary role in weight management.

Pharmacotherapy in Obesity Part II – GLP-1 and Other New Medications

Samaneh Dowlatshahi, MD

Examines GLP-1-based therapies and newer pharmacologic options for obesity management.

When GLP-1s Aren’t Enough?

Jawairia Shakil, MD

Discusses clinical situations in which GLP-1 therapy alone may not achieve treatment goals and the need to consider broader therapeutic strategies.

Session 3 – Surgical, Endoscopic & Technology-Based Obesity Treatment

Obesity Therapies in 2026: Where Does Surgery Fit Now?

Matthew Hutter, MD

Explores the evolving role of metabolic and bariatric surgery alongside increasingly effective medical obesity therapies.

Official Houston Methodist note: This session was listed as not accredited for continuing education.

Innovations in Endoscopic Obesity Therapies: The Next Frontier

Thomas McCarty, MD

Reviews emerging endoscopic approaches and their evolving role within comprehensive obesity treatment.

Obesity Management: Case-Based Discussion

Ahmed Ali, MD; Aman Ali, MD; Vadim Sherman, MD; Thomas McCarty, MD
Moderator: Kyle Stephens, MD

Uses clinical cases to explore multidisciplinary decision-making and individualized obesity treatment.

Smart Solutions: Digital Tools & AI Transforming Obesity Care

Ramiro Saavedra, MS

Examines how digital health technologies and artificial intelligence are influencing contemporary obesity care and patient management.

Session 4 – Hormonal Regulation, Primary Care & Patient-Centered Treatment

The Hormonal Puzzle: A Case-Based Mapping of Appetite Pathways to Clinical Obesity

Bhargavi Patham, MD

Explores the hormonal pathways regulating appetite and their clinical relevance in obesity through case-based discussion.

Challenges of Managing Patients with Obesity in a Primary Care Practice

Margaret Umah, MD

Addresses real-world barriers and practical considerations encountered when managing obesity in primary care.

On the Front Lines: Confronting the Realities of Primary Care – Panel Discussion

Jawairia Shakil, MD; Bhargavi Patham, MD; Margaret Umah, MD; Archana Sadhu, MD
Moderator: Bernard Danna, MD

A multidisciplinary discussion of challenges faced by primary care clinicians managing obesity and associated conditions.

Voices of Success: Patient Journeys Across Medical, Surgical & Endoscopic Treatments

Jerry Guidry; Tyler Hutchins; Pamela Berdou; Rita Thibelang
Moderator: Heather Hudkins, BSN

Highlights patient experiences across medical, surgical, and endoscopic obesity treatment pathways.

Closing Remarks and Evaluations

Nabil Tariq, MD, FACS, FASMBS

Major Topics Covered

• Obesity Medicine
• Obesity Assessment
• Body Composition
• Weight Management
• Metabolic Health
• Evidence-Based Nutrition
• Nutrition Counseling
• Physical Activity
• Exercise in Obesity
• Behavioral Modification
• Psychological Approaches to Physical Activity
• GLP-1 Therapy
• Nutrition During GLP-1 Treatment
• Muscle Preservation
• Bone Health
• Anti-Obesity Medications
• Traditional Obesity Pharmacotherapy
• New Obesity Medications
• Pharmacologic Weight Management
• Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
• Bariatric Surgery in 2026
• Endoscopic Obesity Therapies
• Multidisciplinary Obesity Care
• Case-Based Obesity Management
• Digital Health
• Artificial Intelligence in Obesity Care
• Appetite Regulation
• Hormonal Pathways
• Primary Care Obesity Management
• Patient-Centered Obesity Care
• Medical Obesity Treatment
• Surgical Obesity Treatment
• Endoscopic Obesity Treatment

Course Directors

Nabil Tariq, MD, FACS, FASMBS

Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery
Bariatric & Minimally Invasive Surgery
Houston Methodist Hospital

Vadim Sherman, MD, FACS, FRCSC

Medical Director, Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery Center
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Houston Methodist Hospital

Why This Symposium Is Relevant

The Houston Methodist 3rd Annual Essentials of Obesity Symposium 2026 addresses obesity as a complex chronic disease that often requires coordinated medical, nutritional, behavioral, pharmacologic, endoscopic, and surgical management.

The program is particularly relevant for clinicians seeking current education on:

• GLP-1 and newer anti-obesity medications
• Dietary management during pharmacotherapy
• Body composition and obesity assessment
• Preservation of lean muscle and bone health
• Exercise and behavioral interventions
• Bariatric and metabolic surgery
• Endoscopic obesity treatment
• Hormonal control of appetite
• Digital health and artificial intelligence
• Primary care obesity management
• Multidisciplinary treatment planning

Short Description

Houston Methodist 3rd Annual Essentials of Obesity Symposium 2026 provides an evidence-based update on contemporary obesity management, including body composition, nutrition, exercise, behavioral interventions, GLP-1 therapy, anti-obesity medications, metabolic and bariatric surgery, endoscopic obesity procedures, appetite regulation, digital health, artificial intelligence, and multidisciplinary patient care.

+ Topics:

• 01 Obesity – 2025 Lancet and 2022 IFSOASMBS Guidance Shift Diagnosis From BMI to Body Composition
• 02 Adult Obesity Care – Translating Evidence-Based Dietary Approaches Into Primary Practice
• 03 Obesity Management – Diet for Weight Loss, Exercise for Cardiometabolic Health, and Lean Mass Preservation
• 04 Exercise Counseling – Habit-Loop Strategies for Lifelong Patient Adherence
• 05 GLP-1 Weight-Loss Agents – Nutrition and Resistance Training Strategies to Safeguard Muscle and Bone
• 06 Obesity Pharmacotherapy Update – Safety, Dosing, and Patient Selection for Naltrexone–Bupropion and Phentermine–Topiramate
• 07 GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Obesity Care – Practical Guide to Agent Choice, Plateaus, and Patient Expectations
• 08 Obesity – Managing Inadequate Weight Loss on GLP-1 Therapy-Dose, Biology, or Access
• 09 Metabolic Bariatric Surgery in Obesity Care – Navigating New BMI Criteria and the Rising GLP-1 Landscape
• 10 Obesity Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty and Next-Gen EBMTs – Integrating With GLP-1 Agents to Expand Non-Surgical Care
• 11 Obesity Class II–III – Patient-Centered Sequencing of GLP-1 RAs, Endoscopic, and Bariatric Interventions
• 12 Obesity Care – Integrating Wearables, AI Apps, and CGMs to Boost Patient Engagement and Data-Driven Decisions
• 13 Obesity Management Insights – Differentiating Hunger Phenotypes to Guide GLP-1GIP and Adjunct Therapies
• 14 Obesity Management in Primary Care – Strategies to Diagnose, Counsel, and Treat Amid Common Barriers