ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology

Brief Summary: The European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) initiated this online Delphi study. They invited an expert panel of n=194 stakeholders, including policymakers, healthcare professionals, people living with obesity, and researchers from 30 countries to evaluate proposed statements on obesity to create a standardised language. Based on the understanding of obesity as an adiposity-based chronic disease, consensus was achieved on 54 statements categorized into 6 themes: (1) Definition, (2) Causes, onset and progression, (3) Prevention, (4) Screening and diagnosis, (5) Treatment and management, (6) Consequences.

Establishing a common, precise, and scientifically accurate language for obesity is essential for effective communication and to build mutual understanding of obesity as a chronic disease, from primary prevention to diagnosis and treatment. People with obesity, especially children, often face weight bias from healthcare staff, colleagues, teachers, peers, and their family. This leads to serious life-long consequences, such as poor mental health, poor quality of life, and poor social, academic and weight management outcomes [1]. Although the use of person-first language to end weight bias and stigma is increasing in scientific publications on obesity [2], obesity is often misconceived by the general population as a result of “lack of individual willpower” and the responsibility of the individual, ignoring the scientific evidence that obesity is a neuro-metabolic disease with complex biological, genetic, psychosocial and environmental drivers [3].

This taxonomy is an important first step in bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and conventional narratives around obesity. It aims to increase understanding of obesity, improve education on the physiological basis and clinical management, and facilitate a clear communication. To maximise its impact, this taxonomy needs to be widely adopted and implemented in the communication between health care professionals, policymakers, researchers, and people living with obesity.

References: 1. Puhl, R.M.; Lessard, L.M.; Weight Stigma in Youth: Prevalence, Consequences, and Considerations for Clinical Practice. Curr Obes Rep. 2020 Dec;9(4):402-411. doi:10.1007/s13679-020-00408-8.2. Weghuber, D.; Khandpur, N.; Boyland, E.; Mazur, A.; Frelut, M.L.; Forslund, A.; Vlachopapadopoulou, E.; Erhardt, É.; Vania, A.; Molnar, D.; Ring-Dimitriou, S.; Caroli, M.; Mooney, V.; Forhan, M.; Ramos-Salas, X.; Pulungan, A.; Holms, J.C.; O’Malley, G.; Baker, J.L.; Jastreboff, A.M.; Baur, L.; Thivel, D. Championing the use of people-first language in childhood overweight and obesity to address weight bias and stigma: A joint statement from the European-Childhood-Obesity-Group (ECOG), the European-Coalition-for-People-Living-with-Obesity (ECPO), the International-Paediatric-Association (IPA), Obesity-Canada, the European-Association-for-the-Study-of-Obesity Childhood-Obesity-Task-Force (EASO-COTF), Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), The Obesity Society (TOS) and the World-Obesity-Federation (WOF). Pediatr Obes. 2023 Jun;18(6):e13024. doi:10.1111/ijpo.13024.3. O’Keeffe, M.; Flint, S.W.; Watts, K.; Rubino F. Knowledge gaps and weight stigma shape attitudes toward obesity. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2020 May;8(5):363-365. doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(20)30073-5.