2025 Feurt Symposium: The Pharmacist's Role in Weight Management

 

An annual tradition at the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy, the Feurt symposium is sponsored by the Seldon D. Feurt Endowment, which celebrates a previous dean, Dr. Seldon Feurt. Members of the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy and Tennessee Pharmacists Association, in cooperation with the University, started the Seldon D. Feurt Memorial Fund to honor Dr. Feurt and provide private funding for scholarships, fellowships, research grants, and other needs of the College. This year’s topic focuses on obesity management.
 
Obesity remains a critical public health challenge in the United States and globally. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than 40% of U.S. adults have obesity, with prevalence projected to rise in the coming decades. Despite the availability of evidence-based interventions—including lifestyle modification, pharmacotherapy, and, in some cases, bariatric procedures—many patients do not receive adequate support in achieving or maintaining weight goals.
 
Pharmacists are uniquely positioned to bridge gaps in weight management care. As one of the most accessible healthcare professionals, pharmacists have frequent contact with patients across diverse care settings. This accessibility provides opportunities to screen and counsel on weight-related health risks, provide evidence-based education on lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise, or refer patients to licensed dieticians, initiate and monitor FDA-approved anti-obesity medications within collaborative practice agreements, and reinforce adherence, monitor for adverse effects.
 
However, studies show that pharmacists often feel underprepared to deliver weight management services due to limited formal training, barriers to adequate counseling, and uncertainties around reimbursement models. At the same time, healthcare systems are increasingly recognizing pharmacists’ role in chronic disease management, creating an urgent need for education, skills training, and evidence-based implementation strategies specific to weight management.