Barriers and enablers to effective weight management for people living with overweight and obesity: A rapid scoping review.

Linda Sweet, Vidanka Vasilevski, Anna Chapman, Elizabeth Holmes-Truscott, Shaan Naughton, Eva Yuen, Fisaha Tesfay, Anna Peeters, Jane Willcox, Jaithri Ananthapavan, Alemayehu Mekonnen

Journal: Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity 2025;26(3):e13858

PMID: 39484693

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Abstract

A scoping review was conducted to identify barriers and enablers to effective weight management in healthcare settings for people living with overweight and obesity in English-speaking high-income countries. Peer-reviewed and gray literature were systematically searched in June 2024. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Of the 15,684 unique articles identified and screened for relevance, 216 studies were included. Healthcare-related barriers and enablers to weight management were organized under three themes: a) healthcare provider-related factors, b) provision of care, and c) policy/funding. Prominent barriers included healthcare provider knowledge deficits and low prioritization of obesity management, mainly in the primary care setting. Weight management beyond the primary care setting was found to be especially challenging, with poor referral pathways, service fragmentation, lack of multidisciplinary practice, and restricted eligibility criteria, hindering the accessibility of services. Developing consistent policies and guidelines, improving the education of healthcare providers, and increasing funding to provide low-cost comprehensive care, were identified as enablers to access and uptake of weight management services. Considerable overlap in the identified barriers existed across healthcare providers and settings. A whole health system approach to minimize barriers and strengthen enablers to weight management services is needed, to address rising obesity rates.

Address: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.; School of Nursing and Midwifery, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research-Western Health Partnership, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.; Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.; School of Nursing and Midwifery, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.; Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research-Monash Health Partnership, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.; School of Nursing and Midwifery, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research-Epworth HealthCare Partnership, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.; Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Australia.; School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.; The Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes, Diabetes Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.; Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.; Deakin Health Economics, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.; School of Health and Social Development, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.; College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.; Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.

DOI: 10.1111/obr.13858

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MeSH Terms: Humans, Obesity, Overweight, Health Services Accessibility, Health Personnel, Weight Reduction Programs