Media release: Thursday 24 July 2025
Expert forum today to determine guidance on role of weight loss drugs for heart health
'Meeting of the minds' in Melbourne today to start work on Australia's first Consensus Statement for Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease
Leading health experts in Australia are convening in Melbourne today to kick off discussions to inform a clinical consensus statement that will help define the place of new weight loss drugs in the management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
The Heart Foundation is holding a National Stakeholder Forum on Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease in Melbourne today, with the nation's top experts in cardiology, endocrinolgy, general practice and public health coming together to help shape future recommendations around the rapidly evolving area of managing obesity in the context of cardiovascular health.
Overweight and obesity affects two-thirds of adults in Australia and significantly increases the risk of developing an array of chronic conditions, including CVD.
CVD is a major cause of death in Australia, responsible for causing around one in four (24%) of all deaths or an average of one person every 12 minutes1.
Heart Foundation's Chief Medical Advisor and National Taskforce Co-Chair Professor Garry Jennings AO said with an explosion of new pharamcological treatments on the horizon for weight loss such as GLP-1 agonistis showing cardiovascular benefits, clear clinical guidance was needed for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public.
"While non-pharmacological measures such as healthy nutrition and physical activity remain the first line of treatment for obesity and overweight, there is a new wave of emerging medications which significantly reduce body weight," Prof Jennings said.
"Some of these drugs have also been shown to improve cardiovascular outcomes, particularly in people living with obesity or overweight and established cardiovascular disease.
The Heart Foundation is leading work in this rapidly emerging space to develop clear guidance for clinicians on the most effective strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk in people living with overweight or obesity.
Prof. Garry Jennings AO
National Taskforce Co-Chair
Developing Australia's first Clinical Consensus Statement on Obesity and CVD
To address this evolving area and provide clarity for health professionals on best practice diagnostic and treatment options, the Heart Foundation has assembled a National Taskforce to help oversee the development of Australia's first-ever Clinical Consensus Statement on Obesity and CVD.
The statement will provide evidence-based, practical guidance for health professionals and will act as a 'source of truth' when treating patients with obesity and overweight and their risk of CVD.
"It can be hard for clinicians to keep up with the rapid pace at which evidence is being published in this area - this year alone, 22 meta-analyses have been published looking at the impact of weight loss medicines on CVD risk," Prof Jennings said.
Understanding the connections between CVD and obesity
Prof Jennings said despite obesity being a well-established risk factor for heart conditions such as atherosclerosis, heart failure, and arrhythmias, it remained under-recognised as a modifiable risk factor for CVD.
"We are lucky to have several new treatment options available, and many more to come in the near future, to not only support weight loss but also improve cardiovascular outcomes in people that need it most," Prof Jennings said.
Next steps and outcomes
Following insights gathered at the Forum and an independent evidence review conducted by the University of Queensland, the Heart Foundation will publish Australia's first Clinical Consensus Statement on Obesity and CVD to provide health professionals with an evidence-based, practical guide on obesity and cardiovascular disease.
The Clinical Consensus Statement is expected to be publicly available in early 2026.
Cardiometabolic health is a key focus of the Heart Foundation's new 25-year vision for heart health in Australia, Health for Every Heart.
Background
The National Stakeholder Forum on Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease is the Heart Foundation's first step in its work to help identify gaps and shape collective priorities to improve cardiovascular outcomes for people living with obesity or overweight.
In addition to leading health specialists from the clinical and chronic disease sectors, the Forum will be attended by researchers, peak bodies, cardiac groups, consumer advocates and government representatives.
The National Taskforce on Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease is comprised of the following members who will oversee clinical expert input into the development of the Consensus Statement:
- Prof. Garry Jennings (Co-Chair), Cardiology
- Prof. Elif Ekinci (Co-Chair), Endocrinology
- Prof. Louise Baur, Paediatrics, Public Health
- Assoc. Prof. Harsha Chandraratna, Bariatric surgery
- Prof. Clara Chow, Cardiology
- Prof. Clare Collins, Nutrition and dietetics
- Dr. Paresh Dawda, General Practice
- Prof. Sandra Eades, First Nations Health, Public Health
- A/Prof. Samantha Hocking, Endocrinology
- Mr. Ray Kelly, Exercise Physiology, First Nations Health
- Dr Mark Mellor, General Practice
- Ms. Tammy Merton, consumer representative
- Assoc. Prof. Adam Nelson, Cardiology
- Prof. Raj Puranik, Cardiology
- Prof. Jonathan Shaw. Endocrinology
- Dr Terri-Lynn South, General Practice
- Dr. Irene Um. Pharmacy
- Prof. Alison Venn, Epidemiology
- Prof. Andrew Wilson, Public Health
- Mr. Andrew Wilson, consumer representative
- Dr Anna Wood, Endocrinology, First Nations Health
- Prof. Sophia Zoungas, Endocrinology
1 Australian Bureau of Statistics 2023, Causes of Death 2022, cat. no. 3303.0, October. 5. Powell-Wiley TM, et al. Circulation. 2021 May 25;143(21):e984-e1010.
