Including patient voices would improve outcomes of obesity treatment
Listening to patients increases response to treatments
A more patient-centred approach to the treatment of obesity has been called for – as this would contribute to better outcomes for more patients.
Speaking today on World Obesity Day (Tuesday March 4th), the Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (IrSPEN) has called on the government and HSE to make discussion with obesity patients on their treatment preferences an integral part of the approach taken by the health service.
An estimated 1.25 million people in Ireland, 24% of the population, are living with obesity, including at least 100,000 children.
IrSPEN Chairman and Obesity Specialist Prof Carel le Roux said: “Knowledge of patient preferences for treatment is critical because this affects adherence to treatment plans, which can sometimes be challenging. Shared decision-making between healthcare professionals and patients is the optimum approach.
“Not enough has been known about what options patients with obesity would prefer and what impact taking this into account might have on the patient sticking to their treatment plan.”
To better understand this a recent Irish research study gathered information on the preferences of patients with obesity-related complications. The study found that: 41% preferred nutritional therapies, 25% medication, 25% surgery, 6% the combination of medication and nutrition therapies, and 3% no intervention.
IrSPEN member Hillary Craig who was the Lead Researcher on this project said: “Taking patient preference options into consideration when developing their treatment plan plays an effective role in the successful management of chronic disease in patients with obesity complications.
“It changes management to a patient-centred approach that should optimise patient ‘buy-in’, which may improve adherence and as a result effectiveness. These findings provide evidence that obesity care in Ireland should become more patient-centric with shared decision-making.”
In 1997 the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared obesity as a global epidemic, but the incidence of obesity continues to steadily increase in Ireland.
Carel le Roux continued: “There is an urgent need to develop and implement more effective management plans for both prevention and treatment – and we know that the voice of the patient is a necessary part of achieving this. The success of obesity management must be measured by health gain, not weight loss.
“Obesity is a gateway to other diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers, all of which negatively impact quality of life and increase the risk of early death. In financial terms, the drain on healthcare resources to combat obesity-related complications is substantial.”
IrSPEN member Obesity Specialist and GP Dr Michael Crotty said: “Obesity is a complex disease, but currently is not diagnosed or treated as a disease. National policies and political decisions that provide equal access to all treatments for obesity would help people live longer and improve quality of life.”
World Obesity Day is coordinated international by the World Obesity Federation and further details can be found at www.worldobesity.org
Further Information
Ronan Cavanagh, Cavanagh Communications: (086) 317 9731.
About IrSPEN
The Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (IrSPEN) is a multi-disciplinary professional organisation dedicated to optimising screening for and management of those at risk of malnutrition or other nutritional problems in Ireland, whether in hospital or in the community. www.irspen.ie
About the World Obesity Federation
The World Obesity Federation aims to educate people about the disease of obesity and the importance of improved interventions, support, and education about obesity. It is a lead partner to global agencies on obesity, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) – with which it has formal consultative status, approved by the World Health Assembly.
Conflict of Interest statements
Carel le Roux is a Director of the Irish Society for Nutrition and Metabolism. He reports grants from the Irish Research Council, Science Foundation Ireland, Anabio, and the Health Research Board. He serves on advisory boards and speakers panels of Novo Nordisk, Roche, Herbalife, GI Dynamics, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Gila, Irish Life Health, Boehringer Ingelheim, Currax, Zealand Pharma, Keyron, AstraZeneca, and Rhythm Pharma. He also provides obesity clinical care in the My Best Weight clinic and Beyond BMI clinic and is a shareholder in these clinics.
Michael Crotty received honoraria for educational presentations – Novo Nordisk, Consilient Health, Obesity Canada, NIPC, Med Learning Group, Johnson & Johnson. He is a former Advisory Board Member for Novo Nordisk, Johnson & Johnson. He is the Founder & Clinical Lead for My Best Weight Clinic, an Association for the Study of Obesity Ireland Board Member and is the Irish College of GPs / HSE Primary Care Obesity Clinical Lead.
