New research to be presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025) suggests that focusing on percentage weight loss as the main goal for obesity treatment might not be the most effective approach.

The study, led by Dr Sanjeev Sockalingam and colleagues, highlights that weight loss programmes often fail to meet their set targets and overlook other important factors like improving obesity-related health issues, quality of life, and physical and social well-being.

The research, which reviews 30 studies on obesity management, finds that weight loss goals are mostly set between 3% and 10% of body weight. However, a significant number of participants struggle to achieve these goals. Some studies show that only one-third of participants reach a 10% weight loss target. The review reveals that the commonly used 5% weight loss goal, originally based on a small number of studies, is often unrealistic for many people with obesity.

Instead of focusing solely on weight reduction, the authors suggest that obesity treatment should emphasise improving health outcomes related to obesity, such as reducing complications, enhancing quality of life, and improving physical and social functioning. This patient-centred approach would provide a more meaningful measure of success.

This work has been reviewed for presentation at the ECO 2025 conference and underscores the importance of broadening the scope of obesity management beyond just weight loss to better address the complexities of living with obesity.

Source: European Congress on Obesity, ECO 2025