Bariatric Surgery
Obesity Symposium
2026 UCLA Obesity Management Symposium
Bridging the Gap Between Medical and Surgical Weight Loss
On January 31, 2026, the UCLA Division of Clinical Nutrition and UCLA Bariatric Surgery hosted a specialized symposium at the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center. This landmark event brought together primary care providers, endocrinologists, and surgeons to navigate the rapidly shifting landscape of modern obesity treatment.
Featured Presentations & Key Insights
The symposium featured a roster of UCLA’s leading experts, addressing the "pills and/or procedures" choices by emphasizing a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach.
| Topic | Speaker |
|---|---|
| The Changing Landscape | Dr. Zhaoping Li on the evolution of obesity management and the necessity of clinical updates for primary care. |
| Surgery in the Era of GLP-1 | Dr. Raul Rosenthal on the vital role of bariatric surgery alongside modern anti-obesity medications. |
| Real-World vs. Trials | Dr. Edward Livingston comparing real-world data of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide against controlled clinical trials. |
| Managing Treatment | Dr. Vijaya Surampudi providing an overview of the most common patient issues and questions regarding GLP-1 agonists. |
| Combined Therapies | Dr. Yijun Chen on the efficacy of combining sleeve gastrectomy with GLP-1 agonists for morbid obesity. |
| Navigating Insurance | Dr. Dave Garg on strategies for handling insurance coverage complexities for anti-obesity medications. |
How the obesity management landscape has changed - Dr. Zhaoping Li
The role of bariatric surgery in the era of better anti-obesity medications - Dr. Raul Rosenthal
The real-world versus clinical trial data comparison of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide - Dr. Edward Livingston
The most common issues/questions of GLP-1 agonist treatment - Dr. Vijaya Surampudi
The combination of sleeve gastrectomy and GLP-1 agonists for patients with morbid obesity - Dr. Yijun Chen
How do we handle insurance coverage for anti-obesity medications? - Dr. Dave Garg
Panel Discussion
- Treating GLP-1 resistant patients
- Managing GLP-1 non-compliant patients
- Addressing weight regain after bariatric surgery
- Treating severe reflux after GLP-1 agonists or bariatric surgery