The Obesity Imperative 

Recent News

n the updated ACR osteoarthritis guidance, methotrexate received a conditional recommendation for which OA subtype: hip OA; knee OA; erosive hand OA; or axial OA? Test your knowledge in the latest RheumIQ quiz at https://t.co/LHFv1P6XZe.

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow (  View Tweet)

Added IVIG is Effective in Myositis A small randomized controlled trial demonstrates that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) added to cortocosteroids lead to greater and faster improvements in patients with newly diagnosed IIMs. https://t.co/XLrvLSoOic https://t.co/xhjPBXLxiC

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow (  View Tweet)
Added IVIG is Effective in Myositis A small randomized controlled trial demonstrates that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) added to cortocosteroids lead to greater and faster improvements in patients with newly diagnosed idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). https://t.co/CBzgOfSotj
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow (  View Tweet)
True or False: According to a metanalysis of 87 studies, higher BMI and smoking were linked to reduced methotrexate efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis. Check your knowledge in the latest RheumIQ quiz at https://t.co/LHFv1P6XZe.

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow (  View Tweet)

Discussing Weight Loss: 3 Minute Script Dr. Jack Cush's 3 Minute Script as discussed in his Introducing Weight Loss video. https://t.co/JRWAPc5if5 https://t.co/jI65VzTIfs

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow (  View Tweet)
Chinese 52 wk study of XKH004, a novel, SC, humanized anti-17A/F in 323 active AS pts Rx q4 wks vs PBO. @ Wk 16, XKH004 was superior for ASAS40 (45.4% vs 19.4%; P<0.001), improved to 66% by wk 52. https://t.co/f7w41m4QZy https://t.co/LELo52zUb7

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow (  View Tweet)
Obesity and Rheumatic Disease Presented as part of RheumNow's "The Obesity Imperative" campaign. https://t.co/d2fl4EJX8Q https://t.co/AZGfKRvZrx

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow (  View Tweet)
Join us for Tuesday Nite Rheumatology on September 22 for: Obesity Treatment & Safety Experts will tackle: • GLP-1/GIP therapies • Lifestyle & bariatric interventions • Treatment selection & safety • Cost & compounding concerns • Sarcopenia & bone health • The future of https://t.co/BCSOUot5FL
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow (  View Tweet)
Review of HLA-B27 What’s New? HLA-B27 remains the dominant genetic link to spondyloarthritis (SpA) across the age spectrum, but B27 related clinical expression diverges between children and adults. New mechanistic data on autoreactive T cells, HLA-B27 misfolding, and gut-joint https://t.co/13hbXlAvCr
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow (  View Tweet)
Added IVIG is Effective in Myositis A small randomized controlled trial demonstrates that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) added to cortocosteroids lead to greater and faster improvements in patients with newly diagnosed idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). https://t.co/uNNJ9sHU8M
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow (  View Tweet)
Bariatric Surgery in the Era of GLP-1RA Overweight/obesity is a chronic multi-system disease that can impair physical and mental health. It now affects almost 1 in 3 Canadians. Multiple recent guidelines have therefore suggested using waist measurements, in addition to BMI, to https://t.co/RaXnQ2d9Yr
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow (  View Tweet)
4,197 pts from the UK Biobank met fibromyalgia criteria, yet 72.6% had NOT received a diagnosis. Non-Dx assoc w/ male, older age, milder sxs or other pain Dx (OA, CRPS, CFS), lower polysymptomatic distress scores, and less frequent fatigue. https://t.co/Y9m9jR5wbR https://t.co/fitm675kyK

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow (  View Tweet)
Research at Cedars-Sinai used synthetic noncoding RNA TY1 in a bleomycin mouse model of scleroderma, noting improved exercise tolerance, CV function, lung hydroxyproline, skin thickness, less fibrosis. TY1 attenuates the cGAS/STING pathway https://t.co/jOwlPokxKE https://t.co/aIgIPzZbGa

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow (  View Tweet)
Checklist IgG4

EBR Journal Club: Obexelimab in IgG4-Related Disease (INDIGO)

Michael Putman, MD, MSCI

The EBR Journal Club Companion applies my adapted version of the JAMA approach to critical appraisal to an important RCT in rheumatology. Each review covers four domains: Does this apply to my patients? What is the risk of bias? How great are the benefits and harms? And what didn’t they show me? This edition: INDIGO (obexelimab in IgG4-related disease).

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OL study of tofacitinib in 20 juvenile DM pts w/ calcinosis cutis (11 boys; age 10.4 yrs; CC x 31 mos). Calcinosis assessed by CT scan showed decr Agatston score from 6,349 to 4,007. No SAE. https://t.co/UDLLwce3mp https://t.co/BflewkO0RM

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow (  View Tweet)
Metanalysis of 87 studies shows predictors of #MTX response: early Dz, low dz activity, early MTX initiation, and absence of erosive disease. Smoking and higher BMI were linked to reduced efficacy. https://t.co/OfB09aHNOS https://t.co/4UiOgfW940

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow (  View Tweet)
Obesity and Rheumatic Disease Presented as part of RheumNow's "The Obesity Imperative" campaign. https://t.co/d2fl4EJX8Q https://t.co/DpihLZz5Ch

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow (  View Tweet)
QD Clinic: GLP-1s and History of Thyroid Cancer? Daric Mueller, PA-C, St. Clair Shores, MI, presents this case as part of RheumNow's "The Obesity Imperative" campaign, presented in September 2026. https://t.co/uob8RlMV14 https://t.co/f42gB0IXl1

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow (  View Tweet)
Early RA Referral Clinics Work! An outcomes study from the Leiden Early Arthritis Clinic (EAC) has shown substantially less diagnostic delay and better long-term outcomes when patients are referred to EAC compared to usual referrals. https://t.co/6vGd0S0V1W https://t.co/2ATEMRhtMM

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow (  View Tweet)

From the Blog

rheumthought

Obesity in Rheumatic Diseases: More than just a Comorbidity

Marina Magrey, MD
Magrey RT cover image
A few years ago, when I would see a patient with rheumatic disease and increased BMI, I would often document it as obesity as a comorbidity, recommend weight loss and exercise, and then move on. My approach has changed.
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Podcasts

  • Obesity QD Clinics Part Two
  • Early RA Referral Clinics Work (9.18.2026)
  • Obesity QD Clinics Part One
  • Obesity & Inflammation: Understanding the Impact on Rheumatic Disease
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Therapeutic Updates

The Four Pillars of Weight Loss

RheumNow
Dr. Derin Karacabeyli
Watch our 'Four Pillars of Weight Loss' series as part of this month's The Obesity Imperative campaign. Videos include: 'Building A Multidisciplinary Program for Obesity and Arthritis Management' and "Nutrition, Weight Management and Rheumatic Disease".
Read Post

Label update: Structural damage progression in active PsA

Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Medical Affairs
J&J RX Update
Listen to Dr. Catherine Bakewell’s review of clinical data from a recent label update.
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Daily Gem

GLP-1 agonists may lower disease activity independent of weight loss - the anti-inflammatory effect is real.

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