Rethinking obesity management targets: Findings from an international MoSCoW prioritization workshop

Area of Science:

• Obesity research and management
• Healthcare framework development
• Patient-centered care models

Background:

• Obesity requires individualized, person-centered care, challenging traditional weight-centric targets.
• Current research and treatment often misalign with patient experiences and broader health outcomes.
• A gap exists in comprehensive obesity management frameworks that integrate diverse needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and prioritize requirements for a comprehensive obesity management framework.
• To inform the development of a framework that addresses the multifactorial nature of obesity.
• To build upon previous scoping review findings with an international priority-setting workshop.

Main Methods:

• An international workshop study utilized the MoSCoW (Must have, Should have, Could have, Won't have) prioritization method.
• Participants included clinicians, researchers, organizational representatives, and individuals with lived experience.
• Data synthesis involved thematic categorization and member checking for validation.

Main Results:

• Fifteen prioritized themes emerged across MoSCoW categories, emphasizing multifaceted obesity care pillars, provider sensitivity training, and valid outcome measures.
• "Must-have" themes included pharmacotherapy, behavioral support, surgery, and patient-reported outcomes.
• Participant consensus highlighted shared decision-making, compassionate care, and alignment with patient values.

Conclusions:

• Prioritized themes guide obesity management targets, care, measurement, education, and implementation.
• This workshop is a foundational step toward a comprehensive obesity management framework.
• Future work will focus on co-development, implementation, and evaluation of the framework across healthcare settings.