Debating Weight Loss vs. Weight Neutral Strategies for Improvements of Health

Purpose of review: Despite decades of development and testing of weight-loss interventions, the adult populations worldwide have witnessed a continuous rise in body weight. There is an ongoing debate about how to move forward. Some argue that this rise calls for more intensive and possibly life-long treatments, including the new effective GLP1 weight loss medications, while others have called for a fundamental shift away from weight and on to a broader understanding of health. The two strategies are represented as a weight-centric health strategy and a weight neutral health strategy. This paper debates the benefits and potential harms related to the use of these two strategies.

Recent findings: While major weight loss may have substantial health benefits, many individuals will need intensive treatment including weight loss medication to achieve it, as generally few are able to sustain a lifestyle induced weight loss in the long term. Both the weight loss and the weight-neutral health strategies have advantages and limitations emphasizing the need for further research comparing the two strategies. Currently, not everyone is offered, can afford, will tolerate or even desire treatment with weight loss medication, and weight neutral health strategies may be a desirable alternative intervention offering a more holistic approach to health and addressing psychological and social issues including the burden of experienced and internalized weight stigma. However, this method still needs to be tested for effectiveness with regards to both physical and long-term psychological benefits.