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Open research questions in Obesity and Health Practices

181 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 1,479 Obesity and Health Practices papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • Examining nutrition-related constructs in different contexts, - Investigating the relationship between NKS and ASHN in other populations, - Longitudinal studies to examine the causal relationships between NKS, ASHN, and lifestyle factors

    Nutrition knowledge and healthy-eating attitudes: the role of physical activity and lifestyle factors in adults · 2026 · DOI

  • The study was conducted in a single country (China), - The sample size was limited (301 adults), - The study was a cross-sectional study, - Direct comparison with schizophrenia samples from other countries is not currently possible

    Perceived weight stigma among adults diagnosed with schizophrenia in China: a cross-sectional study · 2026 · DOI

  • Further quantitative studies across different cultural settings are needed, - Studies should examine perceived weight stigma among people with schizophrenia in other countries, - Research should investigate the impact of perceived weight stigma on treatment outcomes

    Perceived weight stigma among adults diagnosed with schizophrenia in China: a cross-sectional study · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of empirical evidence on body shaming and eating disorders in the Italian context. Prior studies have not fully investigated the relationship between body shaming and eating disorder symptoms, particularly in adolescents. The study aims to fill this gap by providing evidence on the prevalence and associations of weight-related body shaming experiences.

    Body shaming and internalized weight bias as potential precursors of eating disorders in adolescents · 2024 · DOI

  • Abstract Background While evidence suggests psychosocial support benefits well-being, physical health, and weight management, the impact of psychosocial health within digital behavioral weight management programs (compared to traditional in-person models) remains underexplored.

    Effectiveness of a digital weight management program on weight-bias internalization, self-compassion, quality of life, well-being, and body appreciation: secondary outcomes from a randomized controlled trial · 2026 · DOI

  • This convergent mixed methods study fills a gap in research by examining the preliminary effectiveness of a promising lifestyle medicine program, the PAVING the Path to Wellness program.

    Health Behavior Changes in a Lifestyle Medicine Program: A Convergent Mixed Methods Study · 2026 · DOI

  • The alignment between nutrition knowledge and healthy-eating attitudes remains unclear. There is a need to examine nutrition-related constructs in the context of Türkiye, where there is a substantial burden of modifiable noncommunicable disease risk factors.

    Nutrition knowledge and healthy-eating attitudes: the role of physical activity and lifestyle factors in adults · 2026 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: It is standard practice for healthcare providers to give weight loss advice or counseling to higher-weight patients (ie, those with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), but the immediate psychological consequences of this practice have rarely been examined.

    Weight loss advice from a healthcare provider is motivating, but it is also stigmatizing: an experimental, scenario-based approach · 2025 · DOI

  • Despite these challenges, little is known about how parental overweight influences CHS nurses' approach in encounters regarding children's overweight.

    Child Health Service Nurses' Experiences of Providing Support to Parents With Overweight During Clinical Encounters About Their Child's Overweight—a Qualitative Study · 2025 · DOI

  • Although the mental health field strives to promote the delivery of equitable, culturally sensitive care, the prevalence and nature of weight bias in therapeutic contexts are not well understood.

    Weight bias in mental health settings: a scoping review · 2025 · DOI

  • Future research should explore the longitudinal evolution of psychosocial functioning and support the integration of psychological care into multidisciplinary bariatric programs.

    Psychological Assessment and Psychosocial Outcomes in Bariatric Surgery Candidates: A Retrospective Study · 2025 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: Little is known about weight stigma in sexual minority women, and even less is known about weight stigma in those who have attained substantial weight loss and maintenance.

    Sexual Minority Women Report Higher Weight Stigma Levels Than Heterosexual Women in the National Weight Control Registry · 2024 · DOI

  • Activities such as growth monitoring and promotion of healthy behaviours can contribute to obesity prevention efforts; however, the practicalities of how this is done are poorly documented.

    Preventing childhood obesity in general practice: a qualitative study of GPs, practice nurses, and practice managers · 2024 · DOI

  • However, little is known about how parents frame these discussions with children who have undergone treatment for obesity.

    “A balancing act”: parents’ longitudinal perspectives of weight-related discussions with their children following obesity treatment · 2024 · DOI

  • Studies on weight stigma in adolescence, particularly from general populations, are scarce in the Mediterranean area.

    Experienced and internalized weight stigma among Spanish adolescents · 2024 · DOI

  • Addressing misconceptions, stigma, and gaps in knowledge are critical steps towards improving patient outcomes and fostering a supportive healthcare environment.

    Attitudes, weight stigma and misperceptions of weight loss strategies among patients living with obesity in the Lazio Region, Italy · 2024 · DOI

  • Parental neglect remains a significant subject of concern that needs to be examined in the context of obesity.

    Obesity in childhood: associations with parental neglect, nutritional habits, and obesity awareness · 2024 · DOI

  • Advocacy efforts to mitigate weight stigma in pregnancy and strengthen close relationships to improve maternal health and wellbeing is warranted.

    Prenatal weight stigma can affect relationship quality and maternal health outcomes · 2024 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: Occurrences of weight stigma have been documented in prenatal clinical settings from the perspective of pregnant patients, however little is known from the viewpoint of healthcare providers themselves.

    ‘It’s not me, it’s them’ – a report describing the weight-related attitudes towards obesity in pregnancy among maternal healthcare providers · 2024 · DOI

  • However, the acceptability of the DiRECT intervention in diverse populations with strong cultural emphases on food and shared eating remains unclear.

    Experiences and Acceptability of a Weight Loss Intervention for Diabetes (Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial—DiRECT) in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Qualitative Study within a Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial · 2024 · DOI

  • There is a need for more emphasis on culinary medicine in lifestyle medicine. The connection between lifestyle medicine and culinary medicine needs to be further explored.

    Lifestyle Medicine and Culinary Medicine: Important Synergies and Deep Connections · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of a formal governance structure and update process for lifestyle medicine core competencies and definitions. The need for a structured, sustainable, and globally representative governance mechanism for updating competencies and definitions.

    Governance and Update Process for Lifestyle Medicine Core Competencies and Definitions · 2026 · DOI

  • Obesity remains underprioritized in medical education. Current curricula often do not provide sufficient education on obesity's multifactorial etiology, treatment modalities, and counseling techniques.

    The Impactful Weight of Treating Beyond the Scale: A Comprehensive Course to Improve Obesity Care Among Medical Students · 2026 · DOI

  • The study documents reduced implicit bias and increased self-awareness of biases regarding obesity, but does not assess whether these attitudinal changes in medical students correlate with measurable improvements in clinical outcomes (e.g., patient satisfaction, treatment adherence, weight loss) or reduce internalized weight stigma experienced by patients with obesity receiving care from trained students.

    The Impactful Weight of Treating Beyond the Scale: A Comprehensive Course to Improve Obesity Care Among Medical Students · 2026 · DOI

  • [PCOM] has a very robust IPE program and a new 4-module selfpaced pre-work series on weight bias is being developed as another offering within the program. What do you think are the most important topics you would want to see included in such a program? What professional or group of professionals would you think are most suited to deliver this training to medical students? Table 2 Sample Semi-Structured Focus Group Questions for Faculty Section 1: Medical School Education on Weight Bias and Gaps 1. Do you know of any areas in the curriculum where obesity education, and specifically weight bias, is addressed? If so, can you tell us how it was incorporated into the curriculum, delivered as a standalone offering, or as provided as a program outside of the curriculum? 2. Do you think the way obesity as a disease and weight bias is addressed in medical school prepares students well for conducting sensitive weight-related conversations in clinical practice? 3. From your perspective, what gaps, if any, in the curriculum do you see regarding obesity, weight-related health issues, and/or weight bias?

    Weight Bias Education in Medical Training: Insights from Stakeholder Perspectives · 2026 · DOI

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181 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 1,479 Obesity and Health Practices papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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