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Sep 2025
Pharmacotherapy for Obesity Management
Introduction
According to Obesity Canada, an estimated 1 in 10 premature deaths among Canadian adults aged 20 to 64 are directly attributable to obesity. In addition to its effect on physical health, obesity affects peoples’ social and economic well-being due to the stigma associated with it. This tool aims to help guide discussions and decision-making between clinicians and patients in managing obesity with pharmacotherapy.
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Additional resources
Patient information: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1s)
Patient handout
Information
About the tool
This tool was designed to help guide discussions and decision-making between primary care clinicians and their adult patients with obesity. While a comprehensive approach is outlined, the tool focuses on the pharmacological management of obesity, including:
- Assessing readiness to change and eligibility for pharmacotherapy as part of a comprehensive assessment,
- Discussing, choosing and initiating pharmacotherapy, considering patients' context and goals, and
- Monitoring response to treatment and adjusting as needed.
The Pharmacotherapy for Obesity Management tool was developed using the CEP’s integrated knowledge translation approach. This approach ensures that providers are engaged throughout the development processes through the application of user-centered design methodology. Clinical leadership was provided by Dr. Sonja Reichert. Persons with lived experience and end users were also engaged throughout the tool development process to provide feedback and support the tool’s refinement.
The tool is among several clinical tools developed as part of the Knowledge Translation in Primary Care Initiative. Funded by the Ministry of Health, this initiative supports primary care providers with the development of a series of clinical tools and health information resources.
Clinical leads
Sonja Reichert
MD, MSC, CCFP, FCFP, ABOM DIP
Dr. Sonja M. Reichert is a primary care physician, Associate Professor, American Board of Obesity Medicine Diplomate, and clinician- researcher. She practices in general family medicine and with a focused practice in diabetes at the St. Joseph’s Primary Care Diabetes Support Program in London, ON. Dr. Reichert is the current Dr. Brian W. Gilbert Research Chair (Western University) in Primary Care Research. Her research work integrates diabetes, obesity, clinical trials, and exercise as medicine, all observed through the primary care lens. Dr. Reichert has published several peer-reviewed articles and is a current contributing author to the Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines. She is an award-winning teacher, and Director of Western’s FM PGY3 Enhanced Skills Chronic Disease Management Program. Her passion for teaching extends to a variety of students including Postgraduate (Family Physician Residents), and Graduate (Masters and Doctoral) candidates. Dr. Reichert holds a BSc in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo, an MSc in Exercise Physiology from the University of Toronto, and an MD from McMaster University.
Dr. Reichert provided clinical leadership for the development of the Pharmacotherapy for Obesity Management tool and academic detailing topic and was compensated for her role
Topic Expert Group
- Neil Naik, MB BCh BAO, CCFP, Exec MBA
- Maria Ferrara, NP-PHC, MSc, BScN, BSc
- Ian Patton, PhD, Lived Experience Advisor
- Marissa Beckles, BSc, Lived Experience Advisor
Topic Expert Group members were offered an honorarium for their participation. Thank you to all our members for their work!
Expert Reviewers
Usability participants received a token of appreciation (e.g., gift certificate).