Quick fixes, lasting problems: Rethinking obesity management through a public health lens beyond pharmacological solutions.

AIM

This viewpoint aims to critically examine the growing reliance on pharmacological treatments for obesity and highlight the limitations of such an approach.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Literature from reputable databases and public health registries were sought and used to formulate an evidence-based viewpoint, critically synthesizing current research on obesity pharmacotherapy and its implications within a broader socio-environmental context.

CONCLUSIONS

In response to the obesity epidemic, pharmacological treatments have gained significant attention for their ability to produce substantial weight loss in the short-term. However, the increasing reliance on these medication risks narrowing the understanding, prevention and management of obesity to a purely clinical issue, overlooking its deeper individual-level and societal causes. While pharmacological interventions may offer short-term benefits, they do not address the root causes of obesity, such as the socio-environmental drivers influencing food choices with over-reliance on high-calorie and processed foods, sedentary lifestyles, and socio-economic disparities. Additionally, the high cost of these treatments exacerbates health inequities, limiting access for vulnerable populations. Obesity must be approached as a complex, multifaceted condition, requiring multisectoral approaches as well as integrated care models that combine pharmacological treatments with behavioural interventions, lifestyle modifications, and systemic policy changes. Population-wide strategies are crucial for long-term prevention. This viewpoint argues for comprehensive, multisectoral approaches to obesity prevention and management that moves beyond pharmacological solutions to address the broader socio-environmental factors contributing to the obesity epidemic. Only through systemic changes can we expect to improve public health outcomes and reduce the global burden of obesity.