Current status, perceptions, and barriers regarding weight loss approaches in China.

Abstract

Purpose: To describe management and barriers regarding weight loss in China.

Materials and methods: Data were from the Adelphi Real World Obesity Disease Specific Programme™, a cross-sectional survey between April and July 2022 in Chinese clinical practice. Physicians managing people with obesity or overweight (PwO) and PwO aged ≥ 18 years, under weight management programs, and/or with a body mass index ≥ 28 kg/m² were eligible.

Results: 100 physicians and 801 PwO were included. Before current clinical management, PwO had attempted self-management using their own diet (87%) and exercise (84%) programs, natural remedies/diet pills sold on the internet (26%) or over the counter diet pills (19%). Physicians reported that typical first-line weight management methods in clinical practice were diet (82%) and exercise (82%), with half (50%) using drug approaches. Only 19% of PwO reported full compliance with diet and exercise programs. Among the 78 physicians who used anti-obesity medications (AOMs), the single most important reason for initiating AOM was failure to reach the desired weight loss with diet and exercise alone (58%). Of the 78 physicians, 67% felt that most weight loss approaches always fail and 73% felt that AOM options were restricted; the top rated single most desired improvements in future AOMs were improved or greater efficacy (26%) and safer long-term use (26%). Of PwO, most (88%) had some willingness to try a new AOM.

Conclusion: PwO usually self-managed initial weight loss attempts. Physicians typically initiated lifestyle interventions as first-line treatment despite low PwO compliance. Both physicians and PwO desired improved AOMs. Of note, no approved prescription-only AOMs were available in China during the time window of the study.