Management of obesity in the times of climate change and COVID-19: an interdisciplinary expert consensus report

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic disease that is associated with increased metabolic and cardiovascular risk, excessive morbidity and mortality worldwide. The authors of the present consensus, clinicians representing medical specialties related to the treatment of obesity and its complications, reviewed a number of European and American guidelines mostly published in 2019-2021, and summarized the principles of obesity management to provide a practical guidance considering the impact that increased adiposity poses to health. The primary goal of obesity treatment from clinical perspective is to prevent or slow down the progression of diseases associated with obesity, reduce metabolic and cardiovascular risk and improve the quality of life by achieving adequate and stable weight reduction. However, obesity should not only be considered as a disease requiring treatment in an individual patient, but also as a civilization disease requiring preventive measures at the population level. Despite the evident benefits, obesity management within the health care systemwhether through pharmacotherapy or bariatric surgeryis only a symptomatic treatment, with all its limitations, and will not ultimately solve the problem of obesity. The important message is that available treatment options fail to correct the true drivers of the obesity pandemic. To this end, new solutions and efforts to prevent obesity in the populations are needed.

Metabolic syndrome – a new definition and management guidelines A joint position paper by the Polish Society of Hypertension, Polish Society for the Treatment of Obesity, Polish Lipid Association, Polish Association for Study of Liver, Polish Society of Family Medicine, Polish Society of Lifestyle Medicine, Division of Prevention and Epidemiology Polish Cardiac Society, “Club 30” Polish Cardiac Society, and Division of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Society of Polish Surgeons

“…Weight loss of 5% improves glycaemic control, blood pressure and lipid profile, thus significantly reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its CV complications. The greater the weight loss, the more significant is the expected improvement of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism as well as blood pressure [ 29 , 30 ]. All patients with pre-diabetes, regardless of their BMI, should be encouraged to implement lifestyle modifications (dietary changes and increased physical activity) [ 31 ].…”

Military Blood Service in Poland

“…Among the above diseases, diabetes mellitus came first, as a growing health problem in Poland, but also obesity, and thyroid dysfunction, etc. 36 The above is mainly related to changes in nutrition and lifestyle of Poles, which has already been discussed on scientific forums many times. This is not only a problem of Poland, but of the vast majority of industrialized countries, where a sedentary lifestyle and reduced physical activity result in metabolic and endocrine problems of varying severity.…”

Metabolic syndrome — a new definition and management guidelines

“…Weight loss of 5% improves glycaemic control, blood pressure and lipid profile, thus significantly reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its CV complications. The bigger the weight loss, the more significant the expected improvement of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism as well as blood pressure [29,30]. All patients with pre-diabetes, regardless of their BMI, should be encouraged to implement lifestyle modifications (dietary changes and increased physical activity) [31].…”