Bowman-Busato Jacqueline, Schreurs Lucas, Halford Jason C G, Yumuk Volkan, O'Malley Grace, Woodward Euan, De Cock Diederik, Baker Jennifer L
European Association for the Study of Obesity, Teddington, United Kingdom.
Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Research Group, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090, Brussels, Belgium.
Int J Obes (Lond). 2025 Feb;49(2):182-191. doi: 10.1038/s41366-024-01565-9. Epub 2024 Jun 20.
The basis for a high-performing and resilient healthcare system is having a common, precise, and scientifically accurate language used across all stakeholder groups. However, such a common language is lacking for obesity. Therefore, the European Association for the Study of Obesity undertook a taxonomy initiative to provide standardised language for obesity as commonly used from policy to practice for other major policy-prioritised non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
An online Delphi consensus study was conducted, involving a panel of experts representing stakeholder groups of policymakers, healthcare professionals, people with lived experience, and researchers. Based on the understanding of obesity as an adiposity-based chronic disease, 54 statements demarcated into definition, scope and contextual usage were developed across six themes: Definition of obesity, Causes, onset and progression, Obesity prevention, Screening and early diagnosis, Treatment and management, Obesity consequences.
Of the 194 invited experts, 70 (36%), 63 (33%), and 58 (30%) experts participated in rounds one, two, and three, respectively. Consensus was achieved on 70% of the proposed definitions, scope, and contextual usage after round one, 94% after round two and 100% after round three. The Definition of Obesity theme included distinctions between population-level indicators and individual-level signs of obesity, and how pre-obesity was defined. The Causes, Onset and Progression theme characterised the timing of obesity development. The Obesity Prevention theme explicitly differentiated between health promotion and primary prevention. Both the Screening and Early Diagnosis, and the Treatment and Management themes defined concepts supporting a continuum of care model. The Consequences of Obesity theme encompassed health and socio-economic outcomes.
The taxonomy provides a contemporary evidence-based language about obesity that aligns with language used for policy-prioritised NCDs. The taxonomy is useful for education, advocacy, and communication and can be used by policymakers, healthcare professionals, people living with obesity, researchers, and health system users.
一个高效且有韧性的医疗保健系统的基础是所有利益相关群体使用共同、精确且科学准确的语言。然而，肥胖领域缺乏这样一种通用语言。因此，欧洲肥胖研究协会发起了一项分类法倡议，为肥胖提供标准化语言，这种语言在从政策到实践的过程中，如同其他主要政策优先考虑的非传染性疾病（NCDs）一样普遍使用。
开展了一项在线德尔菲共识研究，涉及一个由代表政策制定者、医疗保健专业人员、有实际生活经验者和研究人员等利益相关群体的专家组成的小组。基于将肥胖理解为一种基于肥胖症的慢性疾病，围绕六个主题制定了54条陈述，这些陈述分为定义、范围和上下文用法：肥胖的定义、病因、发病和进展、肥胖预防、筛查和早期诊断、治疗和管理、肥胖的后果。
在194名受邀专家中，分别有70名（36%）、63名（33%）和58名（30%）专家参与了第一轮、第二轮和第三轮。第一轮后，70%的提议定义、范围和上下文用法达成了共识，第二轮后为94%，第三轮后为100%。肥胖的定义主题包括人口层面指标与个体层面肥胖体征之间的区别，以及肥胖前期是如何定义的。病因、发病和进展主题描述了肥胖发展的时间。肥胖预防主题明确区分了健康促进和一级预防。筛查和早期诊断主题以及治疗和管理主题都定义了支持连续护理模式的概念。肥胖的后果主题涵盖了健康和社会经济结果。
该分类法提供了一种关于肥胖的当代循证语言，与用于政策优先考虑的非传染性疾病的语言相一致。该分类法对教育、宣传和沟通有用，可供政策制定者、医疗保健专业人员、肥胖症患者、研究人员和卫生系统使用者使用。
