“Just put in a little more effort”: the help-seeking experience of patients living with obesity
Authors' conclusion
Our findings identify several key barriers contributing to treatment delays for patients with obesity. People living with obesity emphasized the need for an obesity care pathway and improved communication among primary care providers, allied health professionals, and collaborating centres for obesity management (COMs) to reduce the time required to access appropriate obesity treatment. Additionally, societal perceptions framing obesity as a result of a lack of willpower were reported by patients with obesity as a barrier to seeking care.
Study context
- Population
- Consecutive patients living with obesity (PwO) visiting the obesity clinic of the University Hospitals of Brussels, December 2023–April 2024; 61% female, median age 37 years (IQR 23.5–57.5)interviewed
- Participants
- 18 patients
- Outcome
- Help-seeking behaviour of PwO towards obesity treatment
Methodological detailsthematic analysis, single-centre
- Thematic analysis
- Single-centre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Help-seeking experience themes
- Triggers for seeking obesity care (4 themes): referral from primary care, family, friends and schools; health complications; financial burden of living with obesity; increased internal motivation
- Factors increasing treatment delay (3 themes): inefficient referral; societal pressure to try lifestyle approaches first; challenges to overcome barriers for metabolic surgery
- Inefficient referral from dietitians to multidisciplinary obesity treatment was the main cause of treatment delay
- PwO discouraged by limited effectiveness of dietary guidance, leading to disengagement from the healthcare system
- Journey towards obesity care complex, with multiple HCPs involved
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
“Just put in a little more effort”: the help-seeking experience of patients living with obesity. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 14 August 2025. doi:10.
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