Obesity prevalence will remain high in 2041. Here is what my optimistic self anticipates for clinical care by then:
- More person-centred care: The voices of people living with obesity - across the life course, as well as culturally and linguistically diverse populations, First Nations peoples, and people experiencing social disadvantage - will have influenced the ways in which care is provided. Weight-related stigma within the health system will have decreased.
- Targeted treatments: Treatments will be better targeted for obesity “phenotype”, this term covering a diverse range of genetic, biological, psychological and social factors that influence responses to treatment. “Precision health” approaches will extend to group programs, behavioural therapy, drug therapy, intensive dietary interventions and bariatric surgery. Clinicians will be experienced in the selection of the “right treatment for the right patient at the right time”.
- Improved access to high quality care within health services: Health services will (finally!) have developed coordinated clinical pathways across primary, secondary and tertiary care. Treatment-seeking people with obesity will be better able to navigate the clinical care systems, supported by well-trained health professionals. Many more services will be well-resourced and affordable for all.
- Obesity meets eating disorders more peacefully: The traditional divide between obesity and eating disorder treatment will be bridged. Obesity care will include strategies to recognise and minimise eating disorder risk, and treatment of binge-eating will include management of obesity.
- More collaborative and large-scale research in clinical care: There will be improved resourcing and ethics and governance support for high quality collaborative obesity research. Data sharing and big data approaches for analysis of individual participant data and complex interventions will be routinely undertaken. National treatment registries will be publicly resourced.