Optimizing obesity management for women: A consensus approach by the Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction (ISAR)

PART- 2 Management

A consensus from a pool of experts[ initiated by the Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction (ISAR)] to provide evidence-based and pragmatic clinical insights to optimize obesity management in Indian women are as follows-

• Lifestyle interventions should be the first-line approach for the management of obesity. 
• Daily calorie restriction helps in weight reduction in obese women.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy is beneficial in obese women willing to lose weight.
• Pharmacotherapy is an effective second-line management in women with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 when given with lifestyle modifications. 
• GLP-1 RAs are effective anti-obesity medications for obesity management in women.
• Apart from weight loss, anti-obesity medications may also have other beneficial effects related to women's health.
• Women with BMI ≥35 kg/m 2 with/without any obesity-related co-morbidity may be referred to a bariatric surgeon to evaluate and manage Bariatric surgery.
• Lifestyle interventions are the primary and recommended approach for preventing excessive weight gain in pregnant women with obesity.

Palshetkar et al. Optimizing obesity management for women in an Indian obstetrics and gynecology setting: A consensus approach by the Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction (ISAR). Indian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research 2024;11(3):330–344