The Obesity Society (TOS), founded in 1982, describes itself as the leading professional society focused on obesity science, treatment and prevention, with about 2,800 members worldwide (TOS: About us (external link)). Its members are researchers, physicians and other professionals, so it isn't a patient organization. Several things it publishes are still useful to patients and advocates who want to know where the science and clinical consensus stand.
What you'll find there
- Position statements and clinical guidance on obesity as a disease, on treatment approaches, and on newer issues such as anti-obesity medications. These are good primary sources when you need to show that a treatment reflects mainstream clinical opinion.
- ObesityWeek, the society's annual scientific meeting, where a lot of new obesity-treatment research, including GLP-1 research, is presented. ObesityWeek 2026 runs November 14 to 17 in Washington, DC (ObesityWeek (external link)). News stories that begin "a new study finds…" often come from coverage of the meeting.
- The journal Obesity, the society's peer-reviewed publication.
- Policy and advocacy statements on issues such as Medicare coverage of obesity treatment, weight stigma, and access.
Who it's for
Mostly clinicians and researchers. For patients, it's most useful as a source of authoritative statements to cite in appeals, employer conversations, or advocacy work (see the role of patient advocacy organizations for how professional and patient organizations differ). For day-to-day patient support and advocacy tools, the Obesity Action Coalition is the patient-facing counterpart.
A note on funding
Like many professional medical societies, TOS accepts sponsorship and support from pharmaceutical and device companies, including manufacturers of GLP-1 medications. That doesn't invalidate its scientific statements, but it's worth knowing when you weigh its policy positions.