Holly F. Lofton, MD, is a distinguished expert in health care, specializing in obesity medicine. She currently serves as the director of the medical weight management program at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, a role she has held since 2012. In this capacity, she oversees a comprehensive weight management program that includes specialized diets, medications, and bariatric surgery options. She is also deeply involved in clinical research on obesity medications and weight-related conditions, significantly contributing to advancements in treatment guidelines. Furthermore, Dr. Lofton is committed to teaching and mentoring residents, students, and practicing physicians on weight management and addressing weight bias in health care.
Before her tenure at NYU, Dr. Lofton was a weight management physician with the Geisinger Health System from 2008 to 2011. During her time there, she honed her skills in treating patients with obesity and related conditions. Additionally, she served as a fellowship director at both Geisinger Medical Center and NYU, where she trained doctors to become specialists in obesity medicine. Her leadership in these roles has been instrumental in shaping the next generation of experts in the field.
Dr. Lofton’s contributions to obesity medicine extend beyond her clinical practice. She has served as the principal investigator for the SELECT trial for semifluid and the SURMOUNT trial for tirzepatide, leading groundbreaking research that has informed treatment protocols worldwide. Additionally, Dr. Lofton holds memberships in several professional organizations, including the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the Academy of Black Women Physicians, and the Academy of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists. These affiliations reflect her commitment to advancing obesity medicine and supporting diversity within the field. She is also actively involved in the creation of the board certification exam for obesity medicine and has produced educational videos for Medscape.
Dr. Lofton prepared for her career in medicine with a strong educational background, earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from Boston University in 2000. She later obtained a Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Georgia. Moreover, she is a certified obesity medicine specialist, a credential that underscores her expertise in this critical area of health care. She attributes her success to the unwavering support of excellent research assistants, coordinators, and mentors.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dr. Lofton is actively engaged with several civic organizations, including Digital Health New York, the Obesity Working Group, and the Obesity Action Coalition, and serves as medical director for the NFL Alumni Group. Her volunteer work with the Obesity Action Coalition underscores her dedication to community service and advocacy for individuals affected by obesity.
Reflecting on her path, Dr. Lofton’s personal weight loss journey inspired her career in obesity medicine. Beginning in her preteen years, she experienced the social impact of weight loss and its effects on self-esteem. Her mother’s support was crucial, as she helped manage weight and diabetes, reinforcing her passion for obesity medicine.
Dr. Lofton’s most notable achievement is the publication of an investigator-initiated paper on the effect of Saxenda on patients who regain weight after gastric bypass surgery. This paper, published in Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, demonstrated that patients using Saxenda combined with lifestyle management lost an additional 8-10% of their weight compared to those relying solely on lifestyle changes. Her findings contributed to updated guidelines from surgical societies recommending anti-obesity medications for patients who have not met weight loss goals after surgery.
As a lead researcher for the SELECT and SURMOUNT trials for semaglutide, Dr. Lofton has significantly advanced the understanding of weight management medications. Her roles as a fellowship director at Geisinger Medical Center and NYU allowed her to train doctors specializing in obesity medicine. Additionally, Dr. Lofton is actively involved in creating the board certification exam for obesity medicine and has produced educational content for Medscape.
In the near future, Dr. Lofton aims to complete research on medications in development for obesity and other weight-related diseases. She also seeks to raise public awareness about obesity as a global disease, which currently affects 73% of the world’s population. She envisions a world where there is freedom of expression, even in the face of differing opinions and beliefs.
In her personal life, Dr. Lofton was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and is a mother of two children. She enjoys exercising, designing home projects, and spending quality time with her family. Looking to the future, she aims to partner with advocacy groups and political venues to improve public access to weight management treatments while continuing to conduct trials on weight management medications to reduce obesity rates across the United States.