Obesity: Treatments, Conceptualizations, and Future Directions for a Growing Problem

Abstract

Interventions in obesity management include nutritional selection, diet restriction, and physical exercise, followed by cognitive behavioral strategies, pharmacology, and surgery towards the tapered treatment end of the obesity pyramid of interventions. Calorie restriction, regular exercise, and several weight reducing drugs, including probiotic and prebiotic use, are increasing in the market as potential anti-obesity treatments all over the world. Despite these efforts, obesity is increasing and is at epidemic levels. We propose here that there should be a multicomponent individual specific treatment approach for treating this multifactorial pathogenesis, incorporating psychological assessment as a first step that may help to reduce the prevalence of this alarming epidemic. We also believe that focusing on psychological screening may not be enough to control this epidemic without government and community cooperation and intervention. Additionally, we suggest that it is imperative to take advantage of the developments in web-based counseling and artificial intelligence expansion in combination with available anti-obesity treatments to make treatments feasible, accessible, and cost-effective for populations of all ages. The purpose of this paper is to increase awareness and stimulate debate in relation to this growing problem.