Addressing non-traditional risk factors, such as social determinants or gender and racial barriers, may be a more effective approach to preventing and treating obesity, according to data published in Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases.1 If solutions follow this non-traditional approach, researchers believe community programs and national policies will create more effective obesity interventions as well as treatment of similar diseases.
“[Obesity] has reached epidemic proportions worldwide, with more than 1 billion adults expected to be living with obesity by 2030,” wrote authors of the study. “In addition to increasing the risk of metabolic, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and some cancers, obesity also causes social disadvantages, reduced quality of life, and mental illnesses such as depression.”
READ MORE: Lancet Commission Redefines Clinical Obesity, Moving Beyond BMI
For several diseases and comorbidities, providers have made a concerted effort to address both traditional and non-traditional risk factors. While traditional risk factors can include instances of physical health, behavior, and patient lifestyle, non-traditional factors usually come in the form of outside, societal forces that patients are unable to control. One of the more common factors used to measure a patients’ health are considered social determinants of health (SDOH).
“SDOH are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks,” according to the US Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.2 “SDOH also contribute to wide health disparities and inequities. For example, people who don't have access to grocery stores with healthy foods are less likely to have good nutrition.”
With grocery store and healthy food access being relevant examples, SDOH are also used in the treatment of obesity. In the present study, researchers focused on the impacts SDOH have on obesity among patients on an individual level as well as a more population-based, societal perspective on how SDOH affects obesity.
Previous studies have confirmed that SDOH are “intricately” linked to obesity and subsequent cardiovascular disease. Despite previous investigators claiming more research is needed between this link, they confirmed the importance of considering SDOH for disease prevention and treatment.3
“In recent years, the social and environmental context, along with race/ethnicity and gender, have been recognized as factors influencing obesity risk beyond traditional risk factors,” wrote authors of the present study.1 “This review aims to increase knowledge of these causal determinants and their implications for the treatment and management of obesity, addressing not only the individual but also the societal sphere.”
Touching on all 3 societal risk factors, researchers extensively reviewed gender differences, racial differences, and SDOH for obesity. While exploring the factors leading to obesity, they also determined how SDOH can impact treatment.
Beginning with the barriers to access for obesity prevention, researchers discussed how low income impacts access and health literacy. They also discussed how neighborhood and environment can impact the lifestyle choices that often lead to obesity. Finally, they discussed the social stigmas surrounding obesity.
“Health care providers need to consider SDOH when addressing obesity, especially among low [socioeconomic status] and disadvantaged groups, who often face barriers to lifestyle interventions, such as limited access to healthy foods, safe environments for physical activity, and health care,” they continued.1 “Policy initiatives need to focus on improving neighborhood environments and removing barriers to care.”
Pivoting to gender differences, the review highlights how women are at significantly more risk of developing obesity. This is mostly due to the impact sex hormones have on patients’ adiposity, with findings showing significantly more prominence amongst women. While researchers noted societal norms for both genders, those that translated to risk factors were more prominent among women.
“To improve obesity treatment outcomes for all populations, future research should address health care and cultural barriers and explore how racial and ethnic factors influence treatment success,” wrote the study authors.1 “Tailoring interventions to meet the needs of different populations is essential to reducing disparities and improving health outcomes.”
Finally, exploring racial and ethnic differences, researchers identified these risk factors as those that need to be addressed immediately. While there are so many links between low SES and race, researchers’ findings can be applied to diseases and conditions outside of obesity.
With the researchers’ attempt at exploring social, racial, and gender differences in obesity treatment and prevention, they provided evidence that can be implemented at significantly broad levels. While providers would agree each patient and population is unique, addressing the access and barriers to care within obesity, and most other areas, is necessary to further improving health outcomes.
“In particular, it may be critical for clinicians to approach patients with obesity without seeking treatment for obesity or perceiving their obesity as a health problem in and of itself. In addition, future social policies aimed at increasing access to healthy foods, health policies aimed at increasing access to treatment, and policies aimed at reducing the stigma of obesity would greatly contribute to reducing the observed inequalities,” concluded the authors.1
READ MORE: Obesity Management Resource Center
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References
1. Capoccia D, Milani I, Colangeli L, et al. Social, cultural and ethnic determinants of obesity: from pathogenesis to treatment. NMCD. Published online February 1, 2025:103901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2025.103901
3. Baez AS, Ortiz-Whittingham LR, Tarfa H, et al. Social determinants of health, health disparities, and adiposity. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2023 May-Jun;78:17-26. doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2023.04.011.
Social Determinants Crucial in Obesity Prevention, Treatment
On both an individual and societal level, researchers explored how social, cultural, and ethnic determinants impact the treatment and management of obesity.
Addressing non-traditional risk factors, such as social determinants or gender and racial barriers, may be a more effective approach to preventing and treating obesity, according to data published in Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases.1 If solutions follow this non-traditional approach, researchers believe community programs and national policies will create more effective obesity interventions as well as treatment of similar diseases.
“[Obesity] has reached epidemic proportions worldwide, with more than 1 billion adults expected to be living with obesity by 2030,” wrote authors of the study. “In addition to increasing the risk of metabolic, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and some cancers, obesity also causes social disadvantages, reduced quality of life, and mental illnesses such as depression.”
Previous studies have confirmed that SDOH are “intricately” linked to obesity and subsequent cardiovascular disease. | image credit: RaptorWoman / stock.adobe.com
READ MORE: Lancet Commission Redefines Clinical Obesity, Moving Beyond BMI
For several diseases and comorbidities, providers have made a concerted effort to address both traditional and non-traditional risk factors. While traditional risk factors can include instances of physical health, behavior, and patient lifestyle, non-traditional factors usually come in the form of outside, societal forces that patients are unable to control. One of the more common factors used to measure a patients’ health are considered social determinants of health (SDOH).
“SDOH are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks,” according to the US Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.2 “SDOH also contribute to wide health disparities and inequities. For example, people who don't have access to grocery stores with healthy foods are less likely to have good nutrition.”
With grocery store and healthy food access being relevant examples, SDOH are also used in the treatment of obesity. In the present study, researchers focused on the impacts SDOH have on obesity among patients on an individual level as well as a more population-based, societal perspective on how SDOH affects obesity.
Previous studies have confirmed that SDOH are “intricately” linked to obesity and subsequent cardiovascular disease. Despite previous investigators claiming more research is needed between this link, they confirmed the importance of considering SDOH for disease prevention and treatment.3
“In recent years, the social and environmental context, along with race/ethnicity and gender, have been recognized as factors influencing obesity risk beyond traditional risk factors,” wrote authors of the present study.1 “This review aims to increase knowledge of these causal determinants and their implications for the treatment and management of obesity, addressing not only the individual but also the societal sphere.”
Touching on all 3 societal risk factors, researchers extensively reviewed gender differences, racial differences, and SDOH for obesity. While exploring the factors leading to obesity, they also determined how SDOH can impact treatment.
Beginning with the barriers to access for obesity prevention, researchers discussed how low income impacts access and health literacy. They also discussed how neighborhood and environment can impact the lifestyle choices that often lead to obesity. Finally, they discussed the social stigmas surrounding obesity.
“Health care providers need to consider SDOH when addressing obesity, especially among low [socioeconomic status] and disadvantaged groups, who often face barriers to lifestyle interventions, such as limited access to healthy foods, safe environments for physical activity, and health care,” they continued.1 “Policy initiatives need to focus on improving neighborhood environments and removing barriers to care.”
Pivoting to gender differences, the review highlights how women are at significantly more risk of developing obesity. This is mostly due to the impact sex hormones have on patients’ adiposity, with findings showing significantly more prominence amongst women. While researchers noted societal norms for both genders, those that translated to risk factors were more prominent among women.
“To improve obesity treatment outcomes for all populations, future research should address health care and cultural barriers and explore how racial and ethnic factors influence treatment success,” wrote the study authors.1 “Tailoring interventions to meet the needs of different populations is essential to reducing disparities and improving health outcomes.”
Finally, exploring racial and ethnic differences, researchers identified these risk factors as those that need to be addressed immediately. While there are so many links between low SES and race, researchers’ findings can be applied to diseases and conditions outside of obesity.
With the researchers’ attempt at exploring social, racial, and gender differences in obesity treatment and prevention, they provided evidence that can be implemented at significantly broad levels. While providers would agree each patient and population is unique, addressing the access and barriers to care within obesity, and most other areas, is necessary to further improving health outcomes.
“In particular, it may be critical for clinicians to approach patients with obesity without seeking treatment for obesity or perceiving their obesity as a health problem in and of itself. In addition, future social policies aimed at increasing access to healthy foods, health policies aimed at increasing access to treatment, and policies aimed at reducing the stigma of obesity would greatly contribute to reducing the observed inequalities,” concluded the authors.1
READ MORE: Obesity Management Resource Center
Don’t get left behind: Sign up today for our free Drug Topics newsletter and get the latest drug information, industry trends, and patient care tips delivered straight to your inbox.
References
1. Capoccia D, Milani I, Colangeli L, et al. Social, cultural and ethnic determinants of obesity: from pathogenesis to treatment. NMCD. Published online February 1, 2025:103901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2025.103901
2. Social determinants of health. US Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Accessed March 18, 2025. https://odphp.health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health
3. Baez AS, Ortiz-Whittingham LR, Tarfa H, et al. Social determinants of health, health disparities, and adiposity. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2023 May-Jun;78:17-26. doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2023.04.011.
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Tirzepatide and semaglutide show long-term health care cost savings but, the high cost of the medications offset the savings.
How Pharmacy Matches Perfectly With Nutrition
Known as “The Nutrition Pharmacist,” Sarah Gray, PharmD, GAICD, recently joined Drug Topics to discuss her dual profession within health care.
Healthier Diet, Lower WHR Improved Cognitive Brain Function
Researchers compared changes in diet quality and waist-to-hip ratio during midlife with that of hippocampal connectivity and cognitive function in later life.
CagriSema Demonstrates Significant Weight Loss at 68 Weeks
Approximately 89.7% of patients taking CagriSema achieve the coprimary end point of weight loss of 5% or more compared with 30.3% on the placebo.
Reduction in Waist Circumference Led to Lower All-Cause Mortality
Among postmenopausal women, researchers explored associations between intentional weight loss and waist circumference (WC) reduction and mortality.
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