Keywords: Obesity management, Primary care, Family medicine, Capacity building, Health systems, Chronic disease prevention, Person-centered care

Background:

Obesity remains one of the most urgent public health challenges in the WHO European Region, affecting nearly 60% of adults and one in three children. While most European countries have obesity-related clinical guidelines and policy frameworks, their implementation in primary care remains inconsistent and often ineffective. This gap undermines early intervention, equity of care, and the prevention of long-term complications.

Research questions:

How can obesity management in primary care be improved across Europe? What are the barriers and facilitators to implementation? What tools, strategies, and training do family physicians need to deliver effective, scalable, and person-centered obesity care?

Method:

This project will follow a staged, multi-method design across seven interlinked work packages. It begins with a scoping review to synthesize current evidence on implementation barriers and facilitators. This is followed by two Europe-wide surveys—one with key-informants to map national policies and guidelines, and another with frontline providers to assess real-world practices. Identified gaps will inform the co-design of a modular care model, supported by tailored toolkits and a training program for primary care teams. Pilots across diverse health systems will test feasibility, fidelity, and patient outcomes. Mixed-method evaluation and health impact modeling will guide scalability. Dissemination will engage policy and clinical stakeholders.

Results:

Initial findings reveal considerable fragmentation between policy and practice, a need for stigma-sensitive approaches, and strong demand for better training and system-level coordination. Model development and pilot preparation are currently underway

Conclusions:

This project aims to bridge the gap between clinical guidelines and everyday practice by equipping family physicians with the tools, training, and system-level support needed to deliver effective obesity care in real-world primary care settings. By translating recommendations into practical, scalable solutions, the project has the potential to strengthen obesity management, reduce health disparities, and inform future health policy across Europe.

Points for discussion:

What implementation challenges exist in your country?

How can digital tools enhance efficiency and patient engagement?

What strategies reduce stigma and empower patients in primary care?