Gaps in obesity education - thematic narrative analysis from healthcare graduates: findings from the Erasmus Mundus EMINENT project

Background
Obesity is a complex, chronic disease with significant global health implications, yet its management remains underrepresented in medical and allied health education. Despite recommendations for structured obesity education, healthcare professionals (HCPs) report inadequate training, contributing to gaps in knowledge, competency, and clinical preparedness. This study explores the perspectives of newly qualified HCPs regarding their training in obesity management, aiming to identify educational deficiencies and inform future curriculum improvements.

Methods
A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 21 recently graduated HCPs from various disciplines, including medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and dietetics. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis framework, allowing for an in-depth exploration of participants’ experiences and perceptions.

Results
Nine key themes emerged, highlighting a lack of structured curriculum, minimal teaching time, and limited clinical exposure to obesity management. Obesity was primarily taught as a comorbidity rather than a distinct disease, with a disproportionate focus on surgical interventions while neglecting lifestyle modification, pharmacotherapy, and behavioural counselling. Many graduates reported feeling underprepared for patient-centred discussions on weight management, with little training in addressing weight stigma. Clinical exposure was inconsistent, with obesity management rarely encountered outside bariatric surgery. Additionally, reliance on non-academic sources, such as social media, underscored the failure of formal education to provide evidence-based obesity training.

Conclusion
This study identifies critical deficiencies in obesity education, reinforcing the need for standardized, competency-based training across healthcare curricula. Integrating comprehensive obesity management, increasing hands-on clinical exposure, and incorporating structured training in lifestyle interventions and weight stigma awareness are essential steps to enhance HCP preparedness. Addressing these gaps is crucial to improving obesity care and patient outcomes in clinical practice.