The Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism has called on the Health Service Executive to introduce a national obesity treatment programme.
Obesity experts say €56m could have been saved in medication costs by the health service over the past ten years.
They say that could have been achieved by doing a minimum of 400 operations a year on patients with obesity and difficult to control diabetes.
Professor Francis Finucane, Consultant in Obesity and Endocrinology, Galway University Hospital, said dedicated obesity treatment programmes help patients lose 10% or more body weight, remain compliant with their weight loss regime and lower their risk of death from heart disease and stroke.
Ireland has one of the highest obesity rates in Europe and it affects more than one million people here.
Experts say that by recognising obesity as a disease of the brain and treating people with personalised treatment programmes, millions of euro can be saved.
Treatment programmes would include diet, exercise, weight loss medicine, cognitive behavioural therapy, and surgery.
The national obesity strategy was published in 2016 and says there is no single action alone that will deal with the problem.
It promises support for people to reduce the prevalence of obesity by 2025, including targeting high risk groups.
European obesity day is 20 May.
The HSE said it is in the process of appointing a clinical lead for obesity.
It said this appointee will be responsible for ensuring that·early intervention and management of obesity is integrated into all models of care, for children and adults.
The HSE said that equitable, accessible and affordable overweight and obesity management services tailored to need are planned for primary care and acute services.
