The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has released Advancing Healthy Weight Management in Sleep Medicine: Findings and Recommendations from the AASM Obesity Management Strategy Summit, a new report outlining opportunities for sleep medicine clinicians and practices to engage responsibly and effectively in obesity management.

The report summarizes findings from the AASM Obesity Management Strategy Summit, which brought together sleep medicine leaders, obesity medicine experts, patient advocates and other stakeholders to identify barriers, prioritize member needs and develop recommendations for integrating weight management into sleep care. The work focuses particularly on the relationship between obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The proposed roadmap includes immediate actions that can support clinicians and patients over the next 12 months, as well as strategic initiatives for continued development over the next one to three years. Recommendations emphasize practical implementation resources, multidisciplinary collaboration, patient-centered communication and the development of integrated guidance for obesity management in sleep medicine.

Key priorities identified in the report

• Clinical implementation and workflow: Develop clinic-ready workflows, documentation templates and practical tools for incorporating obesity-related conversations and assessments into sleep medicine visits
• Education and training: Create scalable educational resources addressing obesity management strategies, obesity medications and respectful, non-stigmatizing patient communication
• Access and coverage: Provide resources to help practices navigate prior authorization, payer requirements, medical necessity documentation and appeals
• Integrated guidance: Advance multidisciplinary frameworks and future guidelines that clarify the role of sleep clinicians in obesity management
• Patient engagement: Develop accessible, people-first educational resources that connect healthy weight management with sleep health outcomes
• Advocacy and partnerships: Collaborate with professional societies and patient advocacy organizations to improve access to evidence-based obesity care

AASM members and other sleep medicine professionals may access the complete Obesity Management Strategy Summit summary here.