Treatment Options for Obesity-Related Cardiometabolic Diseases: Clinician Insights for Primary Care

In this interview with Patient Care, Monu Khanna, MD, a board-certified obesity medicine and internal medicine expert, outlined a comprehensive, stepwise approach to managing obesity-related cardiometabolic disease. She emphasized that foundational strategies—such as diet, physical activity, stress reduction, sleep hygiene, and gut health—remain essential to care. Dr Khanna also discussed how recent advances in anti-obesity medications, particularly GLP-1 receptor agonists, are reshaping treatment by delivering not only weight loss but also proven cardiovascular benefits. Her insights reflect a growing clinical shift toward integrated management of obesity and cardiometabolic risk.

The following transcript has been edited for clarity, flow, and style.

Patient Care: What are the treatment options available for managing obesity-related cardiometabolic diseases, if any?

Monu Khanna, MD: Just like with any patient who has obesity, we start with lifestyle changes. Lifestyle and dietary modifications are the foundation of treatment. Additionally, we need to focus on stress management, sleep, and physical activity. It's also important to be mindful of gut health, as it plays a significant role in obesity. As we address these factors, we're beginning to shift the conversation. Cardiometabolic risk factors can improve. Whether weight loss occurs through medication, dietary changes, or increased exercise, managing weight effectively reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. With the growing attention on newer anti-obesity medications, we now know these treatments also have cardiac benefits. Many cardiac patients have been found to benefit from these medications. Injectable treatments like GLP-1 agonists, along with others in the pipeline, offer promising options for patients with obesity who are concerned about their cardiovascular risk.