Team-based care and the role of the lipid specialist in obesity management.

BACKGROUND

Obesity is a complex, chronic disease influenced by genetic, environmental, behavioral, and psychosocial factors. While lifestyle modification remains the foundation of treatment, it is often insufficient for sustained weight loss and cardiometabolic risk reduction. The rising prevalence of obesity and its link to comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease necessitate a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to care.

OBJECTIVES

To correlate the pathophysiology of adiposopathic atherogenic dyslipidemia with the need for patient-centered, team-based management strategies that improve long-term outcomes.

METHODS

This review describes the structure and function of interdisciplinary obesity care teams, highlighting the roles of lipid specialists, physicians, advanced practice providers, clinical pharmacists, registered dietitians, behavioral health professionals, and exercise specialists. The use of shared care plans, case reviews, electronic health record tools, and emerging technologies such as nutrigenetic testing is explored.

RESULTS

Multidisciplinary care improves outcomes by addressing obesity's complexity, supporting adherence to evidence-based therapies, and reducing barriers to treatment. Challenges such as payer-related prior authorization delays and the social stigma of obesity remain obstacles to engagement and long-term success, underscoring the need for scalable, collaborative care models.

CONCLUSIONS

Team-based, proactive, and individualized care is essential for effective obesity management. Health systems that invest in interdisciplinary approaches are better positioned to reduce the clinical, psychological, and economic burden of obesity and its complications.