Adult Obesity Treatment and Prevention: A Trans-agency Commentary on the Research Landscape, Gaps, and Future Opportunities

Overview

Journal Obes Rev

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2024 Jun 3

PMID 38830619

Authors

Rebecca K Hoffman

Laurie Friedman Donze

Tanya Agurs-Collins

Brook Belay

David Berrigan

Heidi M Blanck

Andrea Brandau

Amanda Chue

Susan Czajkowski

Glenn Dillon

Lyudmyla Kompaniyets

Bramaramba Kowtha

Rui Li

Priscah Mujuru

Lanay Mudd

Linda Nebeling

Naomi Tomoyasu

Deborah Young-Hyman

Xincheng Ted Zheng

Charlotte Pratt

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Given the high and growing prevalence of obesity among adults in the United States, obesity treatment and prevention are important topics in biomedical and public health research. Although researchers recognize the significance of this problem, much remains unknown about safe and effective prevention and treatment of obesity in adults. In response to the worsening obesity epidemic and the many unknowns regarding the disease, a group of key scientific and program staff members of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal and non-government agencies gathered virtually in September 2021 to discuss the current state of obesity research, research gaps, and opportunities for future research in adult obesity prevention and treatment. The current article synthesizes presentations given by attendees and shares their organizations' current initiatives and identified gaps and opportunities. By integrating the information discussed in the meeting and current initiatives, we identify potential targets and overlapping priorities for future research, including health equity and disparities in obesity, the heterogeneity of obesity, and the use of technological and innovative approaches in interventions.

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