Obesity now affects 650 million people worldwide and is a significant global health concern. A new publication from the SOPHIA project emphasizes just how important this change in the approach to obesity will be for improving patient outcomes.
Changing the approach to obesity therapy
The recent article published in Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology reviews the current aims in research and addresses the accelerated advancement in obesity perception and management.
So far, the treatment of obesity has been inadequate. Due to insufficient data on clustering the complex set of diseases, as well as lacking medical solutions, an unmet medical need remains among people living with obesity. Particularly as obesity increases the risk of comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, a change is needed in how we approach obesity treatment.
Closing the gap in obesity care
The article once again highlights that there is no one size fits all when it comes to obesity treatment. Partnerships between academia, industry, and patient organizations are needed to minimize the existing gap in obesity care. This is a testament to the importance of the work carried out by the IMI SOPHIA partners, who are committed to continue the journey of generating major innovations in the obesity space.
As this paper underlines, there is currently a common perception by patients, clinicians, payers and industry that “obesity is a behavioral responsibility requiring willpower alone rather than allowing chronic disease management of the disease.” This perception has established a stigma around obesity that this publication – and the IMI SOPHIA project – aim to resolve.
Why the narrative around obesity matters
This publication highlights that obesity is not just one disease, but rather a cluster of complex diseases and that treating these underlying diseases may lead to better results for individual patients and society. Addressing the evident unmet medical need requires an overarching change in the approach to treatment. This also entails a change in the narrative around obesity from all parties, which ultimately will lead to better healthcare for people living with obesity. This leads us to the question of: how we create this critical narrative shift?
How to fundamentally change obesity perceptions and treatment
Do you want to take a deep dive in the evidence supporting the work of IMI SOPHIA, and understand why a change in the narrative will make a difference on a global scale? Read the article published in Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology here and learn more about the complexity of obesity therapy.
SOPHIA has received funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No. 875534. This Joint Undertaking support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program and EFPIA and T1D Exchange, JDRF, and Obesity Action Coalition
