HGPI
[Policy Recommendation] Publication of recommendations regarding obesity countermeasures required in society and medicine based on the perspectives of medical settings and those involved (April 8, 2024) “Aiming to implement obesity countermeasures that involve and collaborate with patients, citizens, and the community.”
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With the advent of new obesity treatment drugs, obesity disease (*) is attracting attention. Obesity is a disease that requires appropriate medical intervention, but there are various challenges in connecting and receiving medical care for patients. Therefore, the Japan Health Policy Institute aims to implement obesity countermeasures that are required based on the perspectives of medical professionals and those affected by obesity, and makes recommendations based on the following points.
-Points of recommendation-
・Prevention of obesity through proper eating and proper exercise habits ・Enhancing the medical care delivery system, such as strengthening collaboration between clinics and clinics (referrals from local family doctors to specialists) and building a multidisciplinary system at obesity specialist institutions.
・Elimination of stigma (discrimination and prejudice) against obesity and obese people
・Create an environment where obese patients who require medical intervention can visit specialized medical institutions at the appropriate time and continue treatment.
*Obesity is defined as “a disease in which a person has a BMI of 25 or more, is associated with or is predicted to have health disorders caused or related to obesity, and requires weight loss medically.”
[Image: https://prtimes.jp/i/7152/30/resize/d7152-30-2ee96272679ec28a751f-0.jpg&s3=7152-30-1f5db5821f17f53deb14ae10aef004f3-1241×1754.jpg]
The Japan Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) (Secretariat: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kiyoshi Kurokawa) has published a policy proposal titled “Involvement and collaboration of patients, citizens, and local communities.” Aiming to implement obesity countermeasures” has been published.
The number of obese people in the world has exceeded 1 billion, and the number of patients with chronic diseases caused by obesity is increasing explosively, making obesity an urgent issue in Japan as well. In particular, obesity is a disease that is associated with various health disorders, so appropriate medical intervention is required. However, there are challenges for patients to properly access medical care, such as low awareness of obesity, social stigma, lack of cooperation between local GPs and obesity specialist institutions, and lack or uneven distribution of obesity specialist institutions. exists. Treatment options are expanding with the advent of highly effective anti-obesity drugs, but there are also growing concerns about the use of weight-loss drugs for aesthetic purposes. It is hoped that obesity countermeasures will be implemented in an integrated manner.
Aiming to promote policies centered on the voices of obesity patients, our organization conducted interviews with four people who were diagnosed with obesity and received treatment, and created a patient journey. As a result, we found that it is difficult to live due to the stigma and lack of understanding of obesity among self and society, difficulty in connecting with medical care, and issues regarding the effectiveness of multidisciplinary treatment and continuity of treatment at specialized obesity treatment institutions. It was mentioned.
Hearing period: September to November 2023
Hearing method: Face-to-face
Voices of those involved (partial)
I didn’t know that obesity was a disease or that it was covered by insurance. I don’t think you would ever go to the hospital just because you were found to be “really overweight” (on a medical checkup). I won’t go unless it says, “I have a disease called obesity, so please go to the hospital.”
I think it would be good if obesity treatment became commonplace, and I would like to see a consultation desk where people can get more advice on obesity treatment.
Based on an understanding of the actual situation and issues surrounding people involved in society and the medical field, HGPI proposes the following six measures against obesity that are required in society and medicine from the perspective of those involved. Six recommendations for obesity countermeasures
Recommendation 1: Government agencies and industry should work together to strengthen primary prevention of lifestyle-related diseases, including obesity, through education on healthy lifestyles and the creation of a society with fewer health risks.
Recommendation 2: We should realize secondary prevention policies that are highly effective in preventing diseases by promoting data health and strengthening the effectiveness of specific health checkups and specific health guidance.
Recommendation 3: In order to provide appropriate interventions to patients with obesity and obesity, industry, government, academia, and the public should collaborate in the local community to build a medical care provision system and support system that is tailored to the issues and needs of people with obesity.
Proposal 4: Promote the development of a medical care delivery system and national standardization so that multidisciplinary treatment can be provided to patients with severe obesity.
Recommendation 5: In order to promote obesity policy and improve and equalize the medical care delivery system, evidence should be generated regarding the effectiveness of countermeasures against chronic diseases including obesity.
Recommendation 6: Break away from the trend of favoring biased body images and self-responsibility for obesity, foster understanding of obesity and obesity as medical conditions, and eliminate the stigma that hinders timely and appropriate medical care. should be resolved Based on this proposal, we have received the following comments from Mr. Ichiro Tatsuno, Chairman of the Japan Society for Obesity Treatment and President of Chiba Prefectural University of Health and Welfare.
[Table 2: https://prtimes.jp/data/corp/7152/table/30_1_0fc5aa7930cc980a0d4a2de9190b8ef4.jpg] Please see the policy proposal here. Japanese
https://hgpi.org/research/ncd-ob-20240304.html
English https://hgpi.org/en/research/ncd-ob-20240304.html
■What is the Japan Health Policy Institute?
A nonprofit, independent, nonpartisan private health policy think tank founded in 2004. As a neutral think tank, we bring together a wide range of stakeholders and provide policy options to society in order to realize citizen-centered healthcare policy. We offer new ideas and values from a wide range of perspectives with an eye to the future, in order to maintain our independence and realize a fair and healthy society without being bound by the positions of any particular political party or organization. We work to present effective medical policy options not only in Japan but also to the world, and to solve global health and medical issues.
More details about this release:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000030.000007152.html