New international study shows that while many healthcare professionals recognise obesity as a disease, most people living with the disease are still not being treated
Eight in ten people with obesity believe it is their sole responsibility to lose weight, and wait six years after initial weight loss struggles before speaking to their healthcare professional (HCP), according to new global data from ACTION IO (Awareness, Care, and Treatment In Obesity MaNagement – an International Observation). These findings come at the same time as several global and European medical organisations have recognised obesity as a disease, but the way obesity is being treated and the outcome of such treatment is still highly variable.
ACTION IO surveyed over 14,500 people with obesity and nearly 2,800 HCPs from 11 countries in five continents, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was included in this study. The objectives of the ACTION IO study were to identify perceptions, attitudes, behaviours, and potential barriers to effective obesity care across people with obesity and HCPs. The results, announced at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in April, mark the first time key barriers to obesity care have been identified on a truly international scale. Results from the study highlight that:
- 71% of HCPs believe people with obesity are not interested in losing weight, while only 7% of people with obesity said they are not interested, illustrating a clear gap in perception regarding interest to lose weight
- 81% of people with obesity had made at least one serious weight-loss effort in the past, while HCPs believed only 35% of their patients had done so
“Obesity is one of the most complex, chronic health challenges faced by our society today, yet the current approach to obesity management falls short compared to other diseases of similar burden,” said Prof. Assim A Alfadda, Professor of Medicine, Endocrinology & Metabolism Chairman, Department of Medicine Director, Obesity Research Center College of Medicine King Saud University “The ACTION IO findings provide important evidence of barriers to quality obesity management. As a healthcare community, we clearly have an opportunity to address these barriers to care and initiate earlier, effective weight management conversations with people with obesity without fear of offence. People with obesity clearly want to lose weight and we can support them.”
“Gaining a deeper understanding of obesity through the ACTION IO Study has identified opportunities for collaborative actions to improve care, education and support for people with obesity,” Added Prof. Assim A Alfadda “It is clear that many people have made serious attempts to lose weight but this is not always picked up by their HCP. We hope that the study results provide a platform of insights which can be leveraged to explore new approaches, tools and recommendations to improve the management of obesity on a global scale. We hope that these findings can help remove the barriers between people living with obesity and their HCP and drive more positive engagement in the treatment of obesity.”
Vikrant Shrotria, Corporate Vice President of Novo Nordisk in Saudi Arabia, the sponsor of this study explaines that It is important that people realize that obesity is a serious chronic disease, which is affected by genetic, physiological, environmental and psychological factors and has multiple health consequences. Novo Nordisk as a leading company in the treatment of obesity feels itself responsible to work with healthcare professionals to tackle this growing burden of disease. A global study like ACTION IO brings us closer to understanding disease and people’s behaviour and attitude towards it. Ultimetly, it will help patients and doctors to achieve the best results in weight manaement, which is an important aspect in our long-term commitment to the treatment of obesity.