Sweden is intensifying its national efforts to address obesity, a complex public health challenge affecting nearly half of its adult population and one in five children aged 6-9. The coordinated initiative, involving national authorities and regional healthcare providers, aims to strengthen prevention, treatment, and follow-up care across the entire healthcare system. , marks a renewed commitment to tackling this growing health concern.
“Obesity is one of the biggest challenges of our time, both for the individual and for society,” stated Björn Eriksson, Director-General of the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen). “By uniting around a common direction, we can create more effective and sustainable interventions.”
The rising prevalence of overweight and obesity in Sweden is linked to an increased risk of serious diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer, leading to both suffering and reduced life expectancy. Recognizing the multifaceted nature of obesity, the collaborative effort emphasizes that prevention and treatment require a broad, coordinated approach involving multiple stakeholders.
A Collaborative Approach for Lasting Change
The initiative stems from a shared understanding that obesity cannot be effectively addressed by any single entity. The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare initiated a needs-and-problem analysis in after receiving requests from healthcare practitioners and patient representatives for national guidelines on obesity care. This analysis mapped the existing status of obesity care within the country, paving the way for a more structured response.
The current collaboration, operating under the framework of the Partnership for Knowledge-Based Healthcare, builds upon an agreement to enhance and coordinate knowledge-based healthcare practices throughout the care continuum. The focus is on developing preventative measures, promoting equitable access to care and treatment, and improving follow-up and data analysis.
A key component of this strategy involves consolidating and coordinating the numerous existing initiatives already underway, ensuring they are grounded in the best available evidence and aligned with a unified national approach. This includes leveraging research from centers like the Research Center for Primary Care-based Primary Obesity Prevention (PCPOP) at Uppsala University, which integrates expertise from medical professionals, economists, data analysts, legal experts, and social scientists.
PCPOP’s mission is to shift the focus from treating obesity to preventing it, empowering primary care providers and other societal actors with the necessary tools and methods. The center recognizes obesity as a complex societal challenge, not solely a healthcare issue, and is actively working with governmental bodies to develop and test scalable prevention models.
Mats Bojestig, chairman of the steering group for regional knowledge management, emphasized the importance of responsibly integrating new treatment methods while simultaneously prioritizing preventative efforts. “We want, through our collaboration, regions and authorities to jointly and responsibly take advantage of the new treatment methods that are emerging, while safeguarding preventative work,” he stated.
The development of national guidelines for obesity care, initiated in , is a direct response to the identified need for standardized approaches. These guidelines, encompassing both children and adults, aim to provide practical, patient-centered guidance for primary care physicians, focusing on communication, motivational interviewing, and therapeutic patient education. The European practical and patient-centred guidelines for adult obesity management in primary care are being considered as a model.
The Swedish approach to developing these guidelines is systematic, involving healthcare practitioners and patient representatives to ensure relevance and practicality. This collaborative process reflects a commitment to creating a comprehensive and effective national strategy for addressing the growing challenge of obesity.
The initiative acknowledges the importance of addressing the root causes of obesity rather than simply managing its symptoms. By fostering collaboration between various sectors and prioritizing prevention, Sweden aims to create a more sustainable and impactful approach to improving the health and well-being of its citizens.
