Dr Naser Gharaibeh
Endocrinologist & Obesity Medicine Consultant
Expert Contribution for Family Flavours Magazine
More than one billion people worldwide live with obesity, making it one of today’s greatest public health challenges.
However, many believe that obesity is a personal failure and assume that a person simply eats too much, exercises too little, or lacks willpower.
This view is outdated and harmful. As an endocrinologist and obesity medicine physician, with a focus on menopause care, I see its effects every day. I also see what happens when we stop blaming people and start offering proper support and treatment.
The Facts
Obesity is a chronic disease influenced by genetics, hormones, irregular sleep, stress, medications, food access and the environment in which we live. Just like diabetes or high blood pressure, it often requires long-term care.
Your body defends its weight more strongly than most people realise. When a person loses weight, hunger can increase and the body may burn fewer calories. This is not an excuse or a sign of weakness; this is biology.
Genes also affect appetite, fullness, fat storage and the way the body responds to food. Sleep deprivation, stress, certain medications and hormonal conditions may add to the problem.
Where a family lives also matters. Some communities have safe parks, affordable fresh food and easy access to healthcare. Others do not. Work schedules, income, transport and caregiving responsibilities can all affect a person’s ability to manage their health.
Telling someone to “eat less and move more” ignores this reality.
Public Awareness
Obesity rates remain high and continue to rise in many parts of the world. Yet, there are early signs of change in some populations.
Two years ago, a study found a small decline in obesity among American adults in 2023, the first recorded decline in more than a decade. However, other national data still shows that about four in ten American adults live with obesity. One encouraging change does not mean that the problem has been solved.
It does show, though, that progress may be possible.
Public awareness is improving. Healthcare professionals understand the disease better. Families are speaking more openly about weight, food, sleep and mental health. We also have more treatment options than we had a decade ago.
No single medication or public policy will solve obesity. However, changes across schools, workplaces, healthcare systems and communities can add up.
When society changes the environment and provides effective treatment, people have a better chance of improving their health.
Obesity & The Body
Obesity can affect the body in several ways, such as:
Metabolic complications which include type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels.
Physical complications entail sleep apnea, joint pain, reduced mobility and difficulty completing everyday activities.
Emotional and social complications may encompass low confidence, anxiety, depression, isolation and the effects of weight-related stigma.
Antiobesity Medication
The phrase “weight loss medication” can be misleading. It makes the treatment sound cosmetic, as though its only purpose is to change someone’s appearance. I prefer the term “antiobesity medication”; these medications treat a chronic disease and may improve many of its complications.
Antiobesity medications are not antidepressants and they do not directly treat every condition on this list. However, treating obesity may improve blood sugar levels, liver health, breathing during sleep, mobility and the overall quality of life.
Some medications now have specific approvals for conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. The goal is not to produce a lower number on the scale, but to help the person live a healthier and more active life.
Not A Last Resort
GLP-1 medications have received enormous attention because they can produce significant weight loss and improve several health conditions. They are not the only antiobesity medications.
Other medicines work through different pathways and metabolic surgery remains an important treatment for some people.
GLP-1 medications should not be treated as a desperate last resort. They are evidence-based medical treatments for people who meet the appropriate criteria. They should also not be viewed as a quick solution for anyone who wants to lose a few kilograms.
Marketing and social media have created two opposite problems: some people use these medications without a clear medical need or proper follow-up. Others who have obesity and serious health complications cannot obtain them because of cost, limited insurance coverage or availability.
Buying unapproved products or taking doses without proper guidance also carries real risks. Health authorities have reported dosing mistakes, severe side effects and hospital admissions linked to some compounded GLP-1 products.
A Comprehensive Approach
I regularly meet people whose lives have changed after starting an antiobesity medication.
They may sleep better, move with less pain, control their diabetes, or take part in family activities they once avoided. These results can be life-changing.
However, medication does not replace healthy habits. It can make those habits more achievable by reducing hunger and helping a person feel full sooner. We recommend using antiobesity medications alongside lifestyle treatment, not instead of it.
Nutrition, physical activity, strength training, sleep and stress management remain the foundation of care. This foundation also protects muscle, supports bone health and helps a person maintain progress.
Good treatment requires more than a prescription. Depending on the person’s needs, the care team may include a physician, dietitian, physical therapist, pharmacist and mental health professional.
The team is there to monitor side effects, blood pressure, blood sugar, nutrition, muscle health and other medications. Regular follow-up also helps the person adjust the treatment safely.
Family Support
The words we use matter: comments about body size, jokes about weight and constant criticism can push a person away from care. Weight stigma may cause people to avoid medical appointments, exercise in public, or discuss their struggles with family members.
Parents and caregivers should be especially careful when discussing weight around children and teenagers. The focus should remain on health, energy, strength and healthy routines, not shame or appearance.
Support does not mean policing someone’s plate or repeatedly asking how much weight they have lost. It means listening without judgement. It may mean preparing balanced meals together, joining a family member for a walk or helping them attend medical appointments. It also means recognising that treatment decisions belong to the patient and the healthcare team.
What Needs to Happen Next?
Most importantly, we must replace blame with proper care.
We need better public understanding of obesity as a disease, more research into long-term treatment, muscle preservation, mental health and the needs of different communities. We also need fair access to evidence-based medications for people who are likely to benefit from them.
Obesity is not a simple disease and it does not have a simple solution. Medications are one part of treatment. Lifestyle, family support, community resources and regular medical care are equally important.
When we treat obesity seriously, safely and without judgement, we give people more than an opportunity to lose weight. We give them a better opportunity to regain their health.
Checklist
You can ask these questions before starting antiobesity medication:
- Do I have a medical reason to take this medication?
- Who will monitor my progress and side effects?
- Could it interact with my other medications?
- How will I protect my nutrition, muscles and bone health?
- What is my plan for food, movement, strength training and sleep?
- How often will I have follow-up appointments?
- What is the long-term plan if the medication works?
But always remember: never share medication, use someone else’s prescription or change the dose without guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.
This article is part of Family Flavours’ partnership with Tajaddadi, a cross-regional community movement committed to advancing women’s health, with a focus on perimenopause and menopause, through education, awareness and trusted resources.
