Perceptions, Attitudes, and Barriers to Obesity Care in Mexico: Data From the ACTION-IO Study

The Awareness, Care, and Treatment in Obesity Management-International Observation (ACTION-IO) study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03584191) aimed to identify perceptions, attitudes, behaviors, and barriers to effective obesity care in people with obesity (PwO) and health care professionals (HCPs). This study presents the results from Mexico.

An online survey was conducted. In Mexico, eligible PwO were ≥18 years of age with BMI ≥30 kg/m² based on self-reported height and weight. Eligible HCPs had direct patient care.

The survey was completed by 2,000 PwO and 400 HCPs in Mexico. Many PwO (71%) and HCPs (94%) categorized obesity as a chronic disease. Sixty-three percent of PwO felt motivated to lose weight, but many HCPs perceived that PwO were not interested in losing weight (76%) or motivated to lose weight (69%). Lack of financial means to support weight-loss efforts was a barrier for PwO (34%) to discussing weight with HCPs. Sixty-five percent of PwO had discussed weight with HCPs in the past 5 years. PwO (80%) and HCPs (89%) considered lack of exercise as the main barrier to weight loss. Few PwO (34%) had successfully lost ≥5% of their body mass over the past 3 years.

This ACTION-IO study in Mexico identified discrepancies in the perceptions of PwO and HCPs, highlighting opportunities for further education and patient-centered approaches.