Evidence mapPaperPMID 40813491Full record

ArticleInternational journal of obesity (2005)2025

"Just put in a little more effort": the help-seeking experience of patients living with obesity.

Lucas Schreurs, Carla De Smedt, Ellen Goris, David Unuane, Martijn Schoneveld, Nele Steenackers, Sofia Pazmiño, Inge Gies, Bart Van der Schueren, Diederik De Cock

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Article in International journal of obesity (2005), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Dietitians' Perceptions of the Obesity Care Pathway: Qualitative Insights on Access, Follow-Up, and Referral of Patients Living With Obesity.Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Lucas SchreursBiostatistics and Medical Informatics Research Group, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium. lucas.schreurs@vub.be.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-9608-3830
Carla De SmedtDepartment of Endocrinology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Jette, Brussels, Belgium.
Ellen GorisDepartment of Endocrinology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Jette, Brussels, Belgium.
David UnuaneDepartment of Endocrinology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Jette, Brussels, Belgium.
Martijn SchoneveldDepartment of Surgery, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Jette, Brussels, Belgium.
Nele SteenackersClinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Sofia PazmiñoClinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Inge GiesDepartment of Pediatrics, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090, Jette, Belgium.
Bart Van der SchuerenClinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4754-784X
Diederik De CockBiostatistics and Medical Informatics Research Group, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEarly detection of the disease obesity and support for patients living with obesity could improve the success of obesity treatment and management. The factors influencing the delay in obesity treatment, defined as the period between obesity onset and treatment start, are largely unknown. The aim of our study is to explore the help-seeking behavior of PwO towards obesity treatment.

methodsIn this cross-sectional qualitative study, consecutive patients visiting the obesity clinic of the University Hospitals of Brussels between December 2023 and April 2024 were invited to participate. PwO were interviewed, and data were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.

resultsA total of 18 PwO (61% female, median age 37 years, (IQR: 23.5-57.5)) were interviewed. The journey of PwO towards obesity care seemed complex with multiple HCPs involved. Four themes were identified as triggers for seeking obesity care: Referral from primary care, family, friends and schools; Health complications; Financial burden of living with obesity; and Increased internal motivation. Three themes were identified as factors increasing treatment delay: Inefficient referral; Pressure from society to try lifestyle approaches first; and Challenges to overcome barriers for metabolic surgery. Inefficient referral from dietitians to multidisciplinary obesity treatment was identified as the main cause of treatment delay. PwO feel discouraged by the limited effectiveness of dietary guidance, leading to disengagement from the healthcare system.

conclusionOur 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.

Indexed as

Help-Seeking BehaviorObesityPatient Acceptance of Health CareAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchYoung Adult

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.