Obesity treatment should prioritize health improvement over mere weight loss, according to international obesity experts in a new paper published recently. Co-authored by Prof. Carel le Roux of University College Dublin (UCD), the article advocates for a shift in how obesity is treated, emphasizing the need for lifelong therapies to achieve the best health outcomes.
Prof. le Roux, who also directs the Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (IrSPEN), argues that the success of obesity treatment should be measured by improvements in health and quality of life rather than just weight reduction. “The goal is to achieve a 15% weight loss as a starting point to effectively address most obesity-related complications,” he said. However, he noted that the diverse nature of obesity’s complications makes it challenging to set a single, universal weight goal for all patients.
Dietitian Dr. Werd Al-Najim stressed the importance of a long-term approach to obesity management. “Lifestyle changes that enhance nutritional quality and physical activity are beneficial to health, regardless of weight loss. The primary objective should be to achieve sustainable health gains for the patient’s lifetime,” she stated.
Bariatric surgeon Prof. Helen Heneghan highlighted the variety of treatments available for obesity, noting that their effectiveness varies among patients. “If medications don’t meet treatment goals, bariatric surgery should be considered. Conversely, those who experience suboptimal results from surgery or recurrence of obesity-related conditions might benefit from obesity medications,” she explained.
Prof. Heneghan also pointed out that obesity medications only work while they are being taken, necessitating long-term use to maintain health benefits. She identified several challenges to sustained treatment, including high costs, supply shortages of newer medications, and patient dissatisfaction with side effects.
Dr. Mick Crotty, a GP specializing in obesity management, concluded that many issues stem from the misconception that obesity is self-inflicted and can be resolved by simply eating less and exercising more. This misunderstanding leads to disparities in the care provided to people with obesity compared to those with other chronic diseases, both on individual and systemic levels. “The HSE should ensure the same level of access and coverage for effective obesity treatments as it does for other chronic diseases,” he urged.
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