In this article, veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward explains why 'clinical obesity' is more than just a term—it's a critical tool for enhancing outcomes in our fight against pet obesity

An “obesity first” strategy should be implemented for animals suffering from chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis, insulin resistance, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, hypertension, and more. In simplest terms, “obesity first” means we treat obesity as a priority when confronting these obesity-associated disorders. By losing excess body fat and increasing lean muscle mass, nearly all of these chronic diseases can improve, and some may even experience remission.