Highlights from the ASMBS 40th Annual Meeting: Transformative Insights and Future Directions

The 40th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) brought together a powerful mix of research, innovation, and clinical application in San Diego. With a theme centered on the butterfly effect, this year’s event emphasized how small, informed actions—whether in treatment planning or patient education—can lead to profound, long-term changes.

The Butterfly Effect in Metabolic Bariatric Surgery

Dr. Ted Adams delivered a compelling keynote, applying the concept of the butterfly effect to metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS). His message underscored how frontline providers can catalyze lasting impact. Citing a 10-fold increase in circulating GLP-1 levels post-surgery and the emerging role of adjunct therapies, Dr. Adams highlighted the importance of ongoing discovery and personalized medicine in optimizing outcomes. As he reminded us with a quote from Margaret Mead:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens (or caregivers!) can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Taking a Stand Against Weight Bias

Dr. Ann Rogers, the incoming ASMBS President, shared her plans to advance advocacy, policy reform, and public education surrounding weight bias and obesity stigma. Her leadership builds on years of dedicated involvement with the Obesity Action Coalition and signals a powerful commitment to equity in obesity care.

Want more? Tune into the this podcast episode for a conversation with Dr. Rogers about eliminating weight bias in clinical practice.

Emphasizing Exercise & Body Composition

For the first time, ASMBS hosted a pre-conference course focused solely on exercise—"Walking the Walk, Talking the Talk: Team Approaches to Physical Activity"—which drew a large, engaged audience. The session emphasized interdisciplinary teamwork in promoting sustainable physical activity post-surgery.

Dr. Ricardo Rosero’s session on Body Composition & Metabolism offered a thorough overview of assessment models (2C, 3C, and 4C), covering tools like DXA, ultrasound, and bioimpedance analysis (BIA) with practical considerations around cost, replicability, and safety. One key study he referenced by Bosy-Westphal & Müller (2020) calls for a paradigm shift:

“In the era of precision medicine, we should avoid using BMI. Our goal should be to characterize patients and target interventions based on individual body composition phenotypes.”

Read the study

A standout visual was a 2x2 matrix mapping adiposity and muscle mass levels—emphasizing that the quantity, quality, and distribution of tissue are key to understanding metabolic risk.

Body Composition in Practice: What Providers Are Saying

The value of body composition analysis was a consistent theme. Here are just a few highlights:

• Dr. Angela Glauser, Exercise Physiologist, praised the “beautiful” seca BIA printouts that help visualize skeletal muscle mass, body fat percentage, and visceral fat—insights that resonate deeply with patients and encourage long-term engagement.

• Dr. Kathy Ling, Physical Therapist, shared that many of her patients reject the idea of being “skinny and weak” and are instead motivated by preserving skeletal muscle mass—a concept made tangible through body composition data.

• Carah Horn, RN, discussed how her interdisciplinary team—including sports medicine and athletic trainers—uses seca BIA to show patients how their muscle gains and fat loss progress over time, especially during plateaus where weight alone doesn't tell the full story.

Research Meets Real-World: Exercise in Recovery

David Creel presented a compelling case for integrating exercise into post-surgical recovery. Referencing Gil et al. (2021), he connected the research to everyday patient care, advocating for personalized exercise prescriptions to counter post-op muscle loss.
Explore the study

Inspiring the Next Generation of Obesity Care Leaders

Another highlight was the first-ever ASMBS Pathway Program for high school students considering healthcare careers. Students explored obesity as a chronic disease, learned about people-first language, and visited the seca booth to experience bioimpedance analysis firsthand.

This interactive session showcased how early exposure to inclusive, evidence-based care principles can shape the future of the field—and it was inspiring to see the next generation already thinking beyond BMI.

Looking Ahead

The 40th ASMBS Annual Meeting was a clear signal: the field of bariatric surgery is embracing a more personalized, data-driven, and interdisciplinary future. From research breakthroughs to practical tools like seca body composition analysis, providers are finding new ways to optimize care and improve outcomes.

We’re energized by the enthusiasm shared by our customers and collaborators at ASMBS and proud to be part of the journey toward better, more compassionate care. If you’re building or enhancing your bariatric program, we’d love to talk about how seca’s solutions can support your goals.

Until next time—let’s keep advancing obesity care, one insight at a time.