A new international study shows that while many health care professionals recognize obesity as a disease, most people living with obesity are still not being treated.

Eight in 10 obese people believe it is their sole responsibility to lose weight, and wait six years after initial weight loss struggles before speaking to their health care professional (HCP), according to new global data from ACTION IO (Awareness, Care, and Treatment In Obesity Management — an International Observation).

ACTION IO surveyed over 14,500 people with obesity and nearly 2,800 HCPs from 11 countries, including Saudi Arabia.

“Obesity is one of the most complex, chronic health challenges faced by our society today, yet the current approach to obesity management falls short compared to other diseases,” said Assim A. Alfadda, professor of medicine, endocrinology and metabolism, chairman of Department of Medicine, and director of Obesity Research Center at the College of Medicine, King Saud University.

Vikrant Shrotria, corporate vice president of Novo Nordisk in Saudi Arabia, the sponsor of this study, said people should realize that obesity is a serious chronic disease. “As a leading company in the treatment of obesity, we at Novo Nordisk feel it is our responsibility to work with health care professionals to tackle this disease,” he said.

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