More Resources Needed for Obesity Prevention and Treatment

Obstacles to ‌preventing and treating obesity,‌ including limited access to healthy foods, limited time ​to prepare‌ meals and exercise, neighborhood factors, weight stigma‌ and financial constraints, are more likely to affect people in lower-income communities, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement ⁤ published in Circulation.

The statement, “Socioeconomic and Structural Barriers ‌to Addressing⁤ Obesity ⁢in Communities,” highlights multilevel​ barriers to obesity prevention and management,‌ with an emphasis on social drivers of health, societal culture and biases ‌that may perpetuate harmful ⁢attitudes related to body weight and interfere with the success of weight management programs.

obesity is a chronic health condition characterized by excess body fat that is associated with⁣ harm to health. It affects more than one-third of all people in​ the U.S., both ⁢children and adults, across all socioeconomic backgrounds. While genetic factors can⁣ contribute to the progress of obesity, previous studies have found that genetic predisposition is not the primary‌ driver⁢ of high obesity rates.

People in lower-income communities are disproportionately impacted by obesity and related health conditions, such‌ as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

“The latest ​research indicates that people with fewer resources are more likely to develop obesity as of a combination of factors that influence their everyday, ‌lived experiences, such as socioeconomic stressors that limit access to nutritious foods and regular physical activity or healthy sleep; and cultural factors that make it hard ⁢to access obesity ⁤care and maintain a‌ healthy weight,” said Fatima Cody Stanford, ‌M.D., M.P.H., M.P.A., M.B.A., FAHA, vice chair of the scientific statement writing group, an associate professor ​of ⁣medicine and ‌pediatrics ‍and an obesity medicine physician scientist at Massachusetts General hospital and Harvard ‌Medical⁣ School, both in Boston.

“We must recognise that obesity is not a personal choice. It is indeed highly influenced by multiple social and⁤ environmental factors. This is a critical component for addressing the obesity epidemic ⁤in the ⁣U.S. and obesity-related health conditions including cardiovascular disease,” ⁣Stanford said.

Obesity prevalence and risk factors

Numerous socioeconomic factors are closely linked to⁢ obesity. Risk and prevalence of obesity are ⁣highest among non-Hispanic Black children and adults, low-income families, people living in ​rural areas and adults with a high school education or less.Living in a neighborhood where it is safe to exercise outdoors and being able to access affordable, healthy foods are linked to a reduced risk of developing obesity.

Lifestyle and environmental factors, including shift work, noise pollution and nighttime light exposure, can also increase this risk by interfering with circadian rhythms and affecting sleep quality ⁢and duration.

A 2025 American Heart Association scientific statement about circadian health highlighted that disruptions to the body’s internal clock are strongly associated with an increased risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, high ​blood pressure ‌and‍ cardiovascular disease.

Barriers to seeking and accessing care

Despite greater availability of ‍treatment options for obesity,including weight management programs focused on lifestyle changes and medications such as GLP-1 ⁣receptor agonists,there are still ⁤notable⁢ challenges in effectively ⁢treating obesity.

• Weight stigma perpetuates harmful attitudes: Previous research has‌ found that between 20% and 90% of people have negative and judgmental opinions about ⁣people with excess ⁤weight, such as, obesity is a ‌personal lifestyle choice⁣ or⁢ a reflection‍ of poor self-control. These perceptions may contribute to poor mental health and ‍also unhealthy eating behaviors. Experiences of weight stigma ‌can also make​ individuals more likely to avoid seeking care and support from health care professionals.

• Individuals with obesity face‌ physical ‍and⁢ financial challenges in the health care system: Physical barriers, such as medical equipment and small spaces, often discourage people with obesity from seeking⁤ medical care to help them manage their weight. Other barriers to accessing obesity care include the cost of co-pays ⁢or other out-of-pocket costs, transportation challenges and limitations in health insurance coverage.

• Time is an often-overlooked barrier: Limited time directly affects an individual’s ability to participate in obesity prevention and‌ treatment programs. In addition, work and caregiver responsibilities are often prioritized to maintain financial and household stability, ​thereby reducing the amount of time available to support healthy⁢ lifestyle ⁣behaviors, such as preparing healthy meals ⁣at home and engaging in regular physical activity.

A multifaceted approach is necessary

Effective ‍obesity prevention and treatment programs include collaboration among government, health care professionals, community⁤ organizations and individuals. ​Community-based interventions, ⁣such as faith-based and cultural programs, are effective and may improve ⁢outcomes⁢ across different populations.

However, the statement notes that the available metrics for gauging intervention success, ⁣such ‍as body mass index (BMI),‌ do not accurately⁣ reflect body fat or overall health. The development⁣ of more clinically meaningful metrics⁤ will be necessary to advance efforts in​ reducing obesity rates and promoting healthy weight for people⁢ of all ages.

In addition, ‍health care professionals can make a significant impact by initiating culturally sensitive discussions with patients around their beliefs about weight and care, offering ‍referrals to local ⁢resources and providing personalized care to support patients. Educating health care professionals about biases may also help to reduce weight stigma in health care settings.

“The most effective weight management programs are culturally and ⁣socially informed and⁤ involve stakeholders from across all levels of society​ working together to support people at⁣ risk⁤ for or living with ‌obesity. Improving the affordability of fruits and vegetables specific to cultural diets, increasing access to healthy weight management programs, promoting physical ⁤activity and advocating for public policies such as insurance coverage of obesity medications,⁣ are key strategies ‍that ‌could have large societal impacts,” Stanford said.