Multidisciplinary obesity treatment: Ten considerations from a mental health perspective

Abstract

DOI: 10.17711/SM.0185-3325.2022.007 Global prevalence of overweight and obesity has doubled since 1980, with a third of the worldwide population currently classified as overweight or obese. Research on weight control care in various Latin American countries shows that health systems are ill-equipped to address obesity. Gaps include the absence of quality guidelines for evaluation and treatment, inadequate professional training, and financial constraints to access health services due to marked inequalities among the population (Arora et al., 2019). The purpose of this editorial is to express our adherence to the “ROOTS” position of the World Obesity Federation, which recognizes obesity as a syndemic, in which biological, psychological, and social factors interact (Swinburn et al., 2019). We also support the position of Mexican health professionals, which lists actions for its approach and treatment (Barquera et al., 2022). In addition, we issue the following mental health considerations for health professionals involved in obesity treatment: