Dimpi Desai

Endocrinologist at Stanford University. Obesity Specialist.

[Michael Weintraub, MD @MWeintraubMD]

🩺 Picture this patient:

BMI 38. New-onset type 2 diabetes. No other comorbidities.

Every clinician instinctively recognizes this as an adiposity-driven disease process that merits intensive intervention — lifestyle, pharmacotherapy, possibly metabolic surgery.

❌ Under the Lancet Commission framework, this patient has "preclinical obesity."

That's because T2DM is not among the obesity-related organ dysfunctions that qualify for a clinical obesity diagnosis.

🤔 Yet the framework simultaneously includes OSA, atrial fibrillation, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and pulmonary hypertension as qualifying conditions — all of which are also multifactorial and can occur without obesity.

✅ Clinical obesity: HbA1c 6.1% + dyslipidemia → metabolic cluster met
❌ Preclinical obesity: HbA1c 6.8% (T2DM) + normal lipids → T2DM excluded from criteria

⚠️ T2DM has been a principal qualifier for obesity pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery for decades. Removing it from the diagnostic construct risks confusing payers and delaying access for the patients who need it most.

Read our recent paper for more:
🔗 https://t.co/YvxjTM9ARr

[Dimpi Desai @dimpi_desai]

I’m glad to share our recent guideline communication through the @TheEndoSociety

Obesity is a global pandemic and
there is an increasing need for diagnostic approaches that are practical and equitable.

https://t.co/HGKMRCuaE2

@dr_muniyappa @MWeintraubMD @TChukir

[Dimpi Desai @dimpi_desai]

Excited to kick off Year 2 of the Medical Student Engagement Program! 🎉

Great turnout of 1st-year med students for faculty meet-and-greet + an inspiring fellow presentation.

Early exposure to endocrinology = early sparks of curiosity 💡

Thanks @TheEndoSociety @JoyYWu

[Dimpi Desai @dimpi_desai]

Feeling incredibly grateful and humbled to be promoted to Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Endocrinology at Stanford. Thank you to the mentors, colleagues, and trainees who have supported and inspired me every step of the way.💛 @StanfordEndo

[Stanford Endocrinology @StanfordEndo]

Congratulations Dr. Dimpi Desai on your promotion!

[Dimpi Desai @dimpi_desai]

@KapoorNitinDr @IndiaESI @EndoBrigade @Rssdi_official @IMPA_12 @SAFES_endocrine Congratulations Dr. Kapoor!!

[Dimpi Desai @dimpi_desai]

I’m honored to be speaking at the Stanford Big Ideas in Medicine Conference this Sept 5–6. It’s a space where people from health, science, and storytelling come together to imagine what care could look like in the future. Grateful to be part of the conversation !@StanfordMedMuse

[Dimpi Desai @dimpi_desai]

Congratulations to the new Golden State Obesity Society on their 1st annual conference!
Honored to speak on “Connecting the Dots: Diabetes & Obesity” at this inspiring event

Grateful to join a great group of speakers & organizers @DrAmanRajpal @ShagunBindlish

[Dimpi Desai @dimpi_desai]

@idrlakshmi Very sad to see that there is still a lot of patriarchy in India

[Dimpi Desai @dimpi_desai]

Inspired by #ENDO2025, we’re continuing strong into Year 2 of Stanford’s Medical Student Engagement Program!

Yesterday’s session on thyroid storm & DKA sparked great discussion—led by our amazing faculty & fellows, and joined by new med students. @TheEndoSociety @StanfordEndo

[Dimpi Desai @dimpi_desai]

Thank you @TheEndoSociety for the wonderful meeting #ENDO2025. Returned to work today inspired and rejuvenated! Looking forward to ENDO 2026 at Chicago!!

[Dimpi Desai @dimpi_desai]

Continuing our yearly tradition of a 7am breakfast at #ENDO2025 with my former program director, the incredible Dr. Susan Mandel, and one of her former fellows, Dr. Katie Guttenberg. Always a joy to catch up! @TheEndoSociety #ENDO2025

[Dimpi Desai @dimpi_desai]

Thank you @TheEndoSociety for the wonderful MSEP reception. We are honored to have received the MSEP award and our students had a fabulous time at #ENDO2025.

[Dimpi Desai @dimpi_desai]

The best part of ENDO is the people you reconnect with! Attending a session with friends from my medical school! @ashnidharia98 @ektatirthani @TheEndoSociety #ENDO2025

[Dimpi Desai @dimpi_desai]

Our fellow Dr. Tugce Akcan presenting at #ENDO2025 on real-world use of verapamil in Type 1 diabetes.
Incredible work from the @StanfordEndo team. @TheEndoSociety #ENDO2025

[Dimpi Desai @dimpi_desai]

Live at #ENDO2025!
Our fellow Dr. Angela Rao is presenting our study on perioperative GLP-1 use in bariatric surgery.
Patients on GLP-1s before and after surgery saw the greatest weight loss. Proud of this collaboration
@StanfordEndo @AngieRao92 @dazagury @TheEndoSociety

[Dimpi Desai @dimpi_desai]

Thank you @jubinsanghavi for taking care of our kids while I go attend #ENDO2025 @TheEndoSociety

[Dimpi Desai @dimpi_desai]

Excited to see so many @StanfordEndo presentations at ENDO 2025 this weekend in SF! Grateful to be part of a community—from students to faculty—driving endocrine science forward.
🔗 https://t.co/Xlx4RWaEjq
#ENDO2025 @JoyYWu

[Dimpi Desai @dimpi_desai]

Thyroid disorders and obesity often coexist, creating diagnostic and management challenges. Our latest review explores the intersection of these conditions and provides a clinical approach. Kudos to @ashnidharia98 for an excellent job on this! #Endocrinology #Obesity

[Ashni Dharia @ashnidharia98]

Thrilled to have worked on an insightful article about thyroid disorders and obesity, guided by amazing mentors!
@kanikshadesai @dimpi_desai

Exploring the Link Between Thyroid Disorders and Obesity : Mechanisms, Impacts, and Clinical Implications - https://t.co/WARbPLX05I

[Stanford Endocrinology @StanfordEndo]

Delighted to host Dr. Susan Mandel, Chief of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism @PennMedicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System, to share a preview of the forthcoming American Thyroid Association, Inc. (ATA) guidelines on management of thyroid nodules.