Beyond the Numbers: A New Perspective on obesity Treatment

For years, obesity management has heavily relied on achieving specific percentage weight loss targets.However, a recent study suggests this approach may be too narrow, often leading to frustration and overlooking other crucial aspects of health. The findings,to be presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025),call for a paradigm shift towards complete,patient-centered care.

The pitfalls of percentage-Based Targets

The study highlights that focusing solely on percentage weight loss can be limiting. While weight reduction is undoubtedly important, it doesn’t always translate to improved quality of life or better management of obesity-related complications.

• Limited Scope: Percentage targets frequently enough overshadow other significant health improvements.
• Unrealistic Expectations: Many individuals fail to reach the set goals, leading to discouragement.
• Neglect of Individual Needs: A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t account for the diverse experiences of people living with obesity.

Researchers emphasize that obesity is a complex disease with numerous health implications. Therefore, treatment strategies should address a wider range of factors beyond just the numbers on a scale.

Scoping Review Unveils Discrepancies

A comprehensive scoping review analyzed 30 studies published between 1992 and 2024,including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized trials. The review examined the correlation between targeted weight loss goals and health outcomes in adults with obesity.

The analysis revealed that most studies aimed for a 3% to 10% weight loss. However, a significant discrepancy existed between the targeted and achieved weight loss, indicating frequent failures in meeting the set goals.Notably, a third of the studies did not report post-study results for BMI or weight change.

The rationale behind selecting specific weight loss targets varied, ranging from disease-specific outcomes to improving quality of life. Though, few studies were adequately powered to assess differences beyond weight change outcomes.

Tracing the 5% Target: A Ancient Perspective

The review delved into the origins of the commonly used 5% weight loss target. It found that this goal stemmed from a small number of well-resourced studies where achieving a 5% weight loss was associated with health benefits. However, the current review did not quantitatively assess how often individuals actually reach this target.

The authors observed that in some studies, only about one-third of patients achieved a weight loss target of 10% or more, highlighting the challenges in reaching even modest weight reduction goals.

Moving Beyond Weight Loss: A Broader Perspective

The review advocates for a shift towards a more holistic approach that considers broader health benefits beyond weight loss alone.

Most of the studies in our review looked at populations where people were not only living with obesity, they also had a myriad of obesity-related conditions. we saw that in studies there is often an improvement in health outcomes with interventions such as nutrition, exercise and lifestyle, nonetheless of the weight loss outcome.
Research Team, ECO 2025

This suggests that interventions such as nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes can lead to positive health outcomes even without significant weight loss.

Recommendations for Obesity Management

The authors propose a shift in focus towards more comprehensive, patient-focused parameters.These include:

• Improvement of obesity-related complications
• Enhancing quality of life
• Overall physical and social functioning

By prioritizing these factors, obesity management interventions can provide more meaningful measures of success beyond mere weight reduction.

A Call for Change

The research presented at ECO 2025 challenges the long-standing reliance on percentage weight loss targets in obesity management. The findings suggest that these targets are often unattainable and unsustainable for many individuals.

Despite the prevalence of established weight loss targets, our review suggests these are often unattainable and unsustainable for most participants. obesity management interventions would benefit from shifting focus towards more comprehensive, patient-focused parameters, such as improvement of obesity-related complications, enhancing quality of life and overall physical and social functioning. This approach could provide more meaningful measures of success beyond mere weight reduction.
Research Team, ECO 2025

By adopting a more holistic and patient-centered approach, healthcare professionals can better support individuals living with obesity and help them achieve lasting improvements in their overall health and well-being.