A new AI simulation tool can help clinicians practice obesity-related discussions with patients, according to the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA).

OMA launched OMAr, an interactive patient conversation tool, on April 2 as part of a larger initiative, Treating Obesity First. The initiative aims to educate and support clinicians who want to learn patient-centered strategies for treating obesity as a chronic, complex primary disease. It encourages providers to use the “5As’” framework of obesity management: Ask, Assess, Advise, Agree, and Assist. 

“We continue to hear from clinicians regularly (especially those new to the specialty) that they struggle to begin these conversations. Many clinicians avoid the conversation or dance around it — which doesn’t help anyone,” Courtney Younglove, MD, a member of the OMA board of trustees and founder and medical director of Heartland Weight Loss in Overland Park, Kansas, told Medscape Medical News. 

“Avoidance may be due to underlying bias, which I’m not sure we can solve with an AI tool, but if it’s due to discomfort and/or fear of offending the patient, this could be really helpful,” she said. “Sometimes, the hardest part of a conversation about obesity is simply starting it. OMAr gives clinicians a new way to build confidence before stepping into the exam room.”

More than 20 clinicians were on the committee that worked on OMAr and piloted the tool at various stages, she noted. 

How It Works 

When the simulator opens, the user is presented with five patient personas, each with different demographics and different issues that impact their weight-loss efforts. Users pick a patient, with the option to change at any point.

For example, Jordan L. is a “caregiver under pressure and struggling to prioritize herself.” She is described as “overwhelmed,” “low energy,” and “needs support.” In her current visit, she reveals she is having trouble prioritizing her own health needs. 

A “clinical snapshot” box summarizes the visit reason, known history, context (“Daily caregiving and household demands leave little time or energy for meals, exercise, sleep, or follow-up”), and results of prior evaluations.

A sentence on “Why this visit matters” points to the direction the user might want to take in the conversation: “She needs a clinician who recognizes the pressure she is under and can help her find realistic support.”

Then the interactive conversation starts. Jordan says, “I have been trying to get back on track, but I am exhausted, overwhelmed, and it feels like I am always taking care of everyone else first.”

The user types a response. For example: “That sounds very difficult.” Jordan responds (via the AI tool): “It really is. I just feel like there’s never enough time or energy for me to focus on my own needs. It’s hard to keep up with everything.”

This response could open the door to a discussion of what Jordan thinks might help her and referral to support resources.

A user might have responded less sensitively to Jordan’s opening statement: “Lots of people are exhausted from taking care of others but still manage to keep their weight on track. Why can’t you?” 

In this scenario, Jordan responds, “That feels a bit judgmental. I know it’s not easy for everyone, but my situation is different. Between caregiving and everything else, I just struggle to find the time and motivation for myself. It’s not that I don’t want to; I just feel stretched too thin.”

The user can end the conversation at any point and receive a visit score with feedback. The latter conversation was deemed too short to fully assess, but the AI tool still managed to give a reasonable suggestion for continuing the conversation.

The simulator also provides a guide to the 5As and links to additional resources.

‘Foundational Knowledge, Support’ 

“Most clinicians are facing the rapidly evolving environment of obesity treatment options without foundational knowledge or personalized support for engaging in difficult conversations with patients about this stigmatized disease,” said Allison Rhodes, MD, an obesity medicine physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. 

“I am hopeful that Treating Obesity First will bridge the gap in foundational knowledge that may keep many clinicians from feeling fully empowered in this space, and that they will engage with the tool even if they already feel comfortable initiating and navigating conversations about obesity with their patients,” she told Medscape Medical News.

“Even though I have these conversations on a daily basis, it has taken time to refine the language I use when communicating with patients, and much of that came from trial and error in the real world,” she added. “The resources provided by Treating Obesity First, especially the AI patient conversation simulator, are high-yield with minimal time investment, so even the busiest of clinicians should be able to opt in.”

Reagan Wittek, MD, an ob-gyn at Women’s Health Associates in Merriam, Kansas, tried the tool, noting that “the initiative is needed because so many of our female patients are insecure about their weight and afraid to address it with providers. I also feel providers, including myself, did not have training in nutrition or weight loss, so guidance for both patients and providers is needed.”

Younglove and Wittek reported no conflicts of interest. Rhodes declared being a member of the Obesity Medicine Association Membership Committee and moderator of the upcoming OMA Obesity Medicine 2026 Conference.

Marilynn Larkin, MA, is an award-winning medical writer and editor whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Medscape Medical News and its sister publication MDedge, The Lancet (where she was a contributing editor), and Reuters Health.