Socioeconomic and Structural Barriers to Addressing Obesity in Communities
Published: January 15, 2026
- Obesity rates are rising worldwide and disproportionately burden individuals from under-resourced backgrounds.
- While the causes of obesity are multi-factorial, disparities in obesity-related burden and complications are driven by social and structural factors that impact public policies, health care access, socio-economic status, health literacy, and ultimately health behaviors, such as diet, sleep, mental health, and physical activity.
- Health care professionals are important for shaping social and culturally effective obesity management programs but need specific training on how to design systems-based holistic therapeutic plans that minimize obesity stigma, promote socially sensitive care, optimize prescribing practices, and integrate community-based lifestyle behaviors and support.
Recommended Reading
- Implementation of Obesity Science Into Clinical Practice
- Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health
- A Synopsis of the Evidence for the Science and Clinical Management of Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Syndrome
- Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease
- Addressing Structural Racism Through Public Policy Advocacy
- Call to Action: Structural Racism as a Fundamental Driver of Health Disparities