The Patient's Journey in Obesity within the United States: An Exercise of Resilience against Disease.

Obesity is often viewed as a result of patient failure to adhere to healthy dietary intake and physical activity; however, this belief undermines the complexity of obesity as a disease. Rates of obesity have doubled for adults and quadrupled for adolescents since the 1990s. Without effective interventions to help combat this disease, patients with obesity are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart attack, stroke, liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and more. Patients often go through several barriers before they are offered pharmacotherapy or bariatric surgery, even though evidence supports the use of these interventions earlier. This partially stems from the cultural barriers associated with using these therapies, but it is also related to healthcare provider bias and limited knowledge of these therapies. Finally, even when patients are offered treatment for obesity, they often run into insurance barriers that keep them from treatment. There needs to be a cultural shift to accept obesity as a disease and improve access to effective treatments sooner to help decrease the risk of health complications associated with obesity.

Barriers to Care for Pediatric Patients with Obesity.

This review article emphasizes the challenges pediatric patients face during obesity treatment. Prior research has been compartmentalized, acknowledging that stigma, the ability to implement lifestyle changes, social health determinants, and healthcare accessibility are considerable impediments for obese children. These issues emerge at various levels, including the individual or family, the community and school, and even national policy. This suggests the need for a more comprehensive, team-based approach to tackle pediatric obesity. Understanding these barriers is the first step toward creating effective strategies and solutions to overcome these challenges.