New study reveals a “3D” approach is vital for people living with obesity to lose weight and keep it off

The ACTION IO sub-analysis, the largest global obesity study ever conducted among health professionals and people living with obesity, reveals that the triple approach of Diagnosing the disease, Discussing it and setting Directions is paramount to managing obesity effectively.

November 2019. People diagnosed with obesity achieve better weight-loss outcomes (defined as losing 5% or more of body weight and maintaining this loss for at least one year) than those who are not diagnosed (42% vs 35%)¹, according to a sub-analysis of the ACTION IO study results.

In addition, people with obesity achieved better weight loss when they talked about their weight with a health professional (58%) and had follow-up appointments (25%) than those who did not (53% and 21%, respectively).¹

These new findings were presented at the “Obesity Week 2019” congress in Las Vegas, USA, an international scientific medical congress.

“It is essential that we start treating obesity as we would any other chronic disease, adopting a ‘3D’ approach: diagnosing, discussing and providing ongoing management and directions,” said Dr Robert Kushner, former president of The Obesity Society. “All three steps are equally important and none of them can be skipped if, as a health professional, you want to help your patient succeed not only in losing weight but also in keeping it off over time.”

“Obesity is a global pandemic and we must help those living with obesity achieve greater success in losing weight. By adopting a ‘3D’ approach we can help more people and improve obesity care.”

“The ACTION IO study highlights a number of areas that need to be addressed to improve obesity care and represents a watershed in how this condition is approached,” said Dr Victor Nolasco, Obesity Medical Manager for Novo Nordisk Central America and the Caribbean.

“It is clear that more collaboration between stakeholders is needed to work towards a solution that better supports people. Driving conversations between people with obesity and health professionals is a crucial element in addressing obesity as a chronic disease. Today, obesity is often not treated as a disease and people think they have to solve their weight problems on their own.”

“We will work with obesity leaders, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life and health outcomes of those living with this condition,” he concluded.

The main results of the ACTION IO study were published at the 26th European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Glasgow from 28 April to 1 May 2019 and in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

ACTION IO sub-analysis data were presented in five sub-topics during Obesity Week 2019:

ACTION IO sub-analysis data were presented in five abstracts during Obesity Week 2019:

1. Three “Ds”: elements for successful weight-loss outcomes – the role of health professionals
2. Misperceptions about obesity management among people with obesity and health professionals
3. Barriers to weight-loss conversations among health professionals: results from ACTION-IO⁴
4. Gender differences in attitudes towards obesity management⁵
5. The chicken or the egg: confidence and motivation in people with successful weight loss