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Tackling overweight and obesity: does the public health message match the science?

Public health weight-loss interventions seem to be based on an outdated understanding of the science.

Authors:
Hafekost K, Lawrence D, Mitrou F, O'Sullivan TA, Zubrick SR

Authors notes:
BMC medicine. 2013;11:41

Keywords:
obesity, public health, weight-loss intervention, energy balance

Abstract:
Public health weight-loss interventions seem to be based on an outdated understanding of the science.

Their continued failure to achieve any meaningful, long-term results reflects the need to develop intervention science that is integrated with knowledge from basic science.

Instead of asking why people persist in eating too much and exercising too little, the key questions of obesity research should address those factors (environmental, behavioral or otherwise) that lead to dysregulation of the homeostatic mechanism of energy regulation.

There is a need for a multidisciplinary approach in the design of future weight-loss interventions in order to improve long-term weight-loss success.