Obesity Facts (Oct 2022)

Obesity in Adults: A 2022 Adapted Clinical Practice Guideline for Ireland

  • Cathy Breen,
  • Jean O’Connell,
  • Justin Geoghegan,
  • Donal O’Shea,
  • Susie Birney,
  • Louise Tully,
  • Karen Gaynor,
  • Mark O’Kelly,
  • Grace O’Malley,
  • Clare O’Donovan,
  • Oonagh Lyons,
  • Mary Flynn,
  • Suzanne Allen,
  • Niamh Arthurs,
  • Sarah Browne,
  • Molly Byrne,
  • Shauna Callaghan,
  • Chris Collins,
  • Aoife Courtney,
  • Michael Crotty,
  • Ciara Donohue,
  • Caroline Donovan,
  • Colin Dunlevy,
  • Diarmuid Duggan,
  • Naomi Fearon,
  • Francis Finucane,
  • Ita Fitzgerald,
  • Siobhan Foy,
  • John Garvey,
  • Irene Gibson,
  • Liam Glynn,
  • Edward Gregg,
  • Anne Griffin,
  • Janas M. Harrington,
  • Caroline Heary,
  • Helen Heneghan,
  • Andrew Hogan,
  • Mary Hynes,
  • Claire Kearney,
  • Dervla Kelly,
  • Karl Neff,
  • Carel W. le Roux,
  • Sean Manning,
  • Fionnuala McAuliffe,
  • Susan Moore,
  • Niamh Moran,
  • Maura Murphy,
  • Celine Murrin,
  • Sarah M. O’Brien,
  • Caitríona O’Donnell,
  • Sarah O’Dwyer,
  • Cara O’Grada,
  • Emer O’Malley,
  • Orlaith O’Reilly,
  • Sharleen O’Reilly,
  • Olivia Porter,
  • Helen M. Roche,
  • Amanda Rhynehart,
  • Leona Ryan,
  • Suzanne Seery,
  • Corina Soare,
  • Ferrah Shaamile,
  • Abigail Walsh,
  • Catherine Woods,
  • Conor Woods,
  • Ruth Yoder

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1159/000527131

Abstract

Read online

Background: This Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for the management of obesity in adults in Ireland, adapted from the Canadian CPG, defines obesity as a complex chronic disease characterised by excess or dysfunctional adiposity that impairs health. The guideline reflects substantial advances in the understanding of the determinants, pathophysiology, assessment, and treatment of obesity. Summary: It shifts the focus of obesity management toward improving patient-centred health outcomes, functional outcomes, and social and economic participation, rather than weight loss alone. It gives recommendations for care that are underpinned by evidence-based principles of chronic disease management; validate patients’ lived experiences; move beyond simplistic approaches of “eat less, move more” and address the root drivers of obesity. Key Messages: People living with obesity face substantial bias and stigma, which contribute to increased morbidity and mortality independent of body weight. Education is needed for all healthcare professionals in Ireland to address the gap in skills, increase knowledge of evidence-based practice, and eliminate bias and stigma in healthcare settings. We call for people living with obesity in Ireland to have access to evidence-informed care, including medical, medical nutrition therapy, physical activity and physical rehabilitation interventions, psychological interventions, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery. This can be best achieved by resourcing and fully implementing the Model of Care for the Management of Adult Overweight and Obesity. To address health inequalities, we also call for the inclusion of obesity in the Structured Chronic Disease Management Programme and for pharmacotherapy reimbursement, to ensure equal access to treatment based on health-need rather than ability to pay.

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