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.

“The Year of Ozempic” proclaimed the December 2023 edition of The New Yorker.

That same month, the journal Science declared glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) weight loss drugs its “Breakthrough of the Year,” beating out commendable contenders such as new malaria and Alzheimer’s treatments, innovative climate change research on natural carbon pumps and artificial intelligence (AI) in improving weather forecasting. Apparently, Science viewed treating obesity as a bigger story than dementia and global warming.

With all the success of human obesity medications, could pet weight loss drugs be far behind?

Veterinary and human healthcare professionals often use the term “obese” to describe a patient with excess body fat. Calling a patient “obese” has significant negative connotations and can be stigmatizing and emotionally triggering.

In veterinary medicine, labeling a pet as “obese” can imply that the owner has failed to provide proper care and nutrition, potentially causing feelings of unease and criticism. It shifts the focus from underlying physiological causes such as genetics, microbiome, hormonal imbalances, and other biological factors to lifestyle choices like exercise and diet.

On the other hand, the proposed terminology, such as “the dog has obesity, ” “a cat having obesity,” or “a pet with obesity,” focuses on the disease state rather than the physical appearance, thereby avoiding blame on the pet owner's actions or an animal’s behavior or inherent characteristic.

If you scroll social media these days, you’ll likely run across a funny cat video. A seemingly endless pageant of feline videos has crowned internet celebrities, inspired international ad campaigns, and even earned their own award ceremonies. As you peruse your social media feeds, you’ll also see many dogs hiking trails, leaping for frisbees, and traveling with their humans. These doggie influencers amass huge online followings, and their posts garner thousands of comments. As you look closer, you’ll also see that how we portray and discuss dogs and cats varies widely.

The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) and the World Pet Obesity Association (WPOA) announced World Pet Obesity Awareness Day on October 11, 2023. Up to 63% of pet cats and 59% of pet dogs are estimated to be overweight or have obesity in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. This week, we have a clinical nutrition expert to discuss a recent pet owner survey and how you can help your pet patients seeking to achieve a healthy body condition.