The basis of any obesity treatment remains multimodal therapy. This consists of a change in diet, more exercise and behavioral changes. What is new is that there are more options for effective nutritional therapy that is better tailored to the living conditions and personal needs of those affected. If necessary, weight-reducing medication, especially new GLP-1-based active ingredients, can be used. Bariatric surgery is also recommended as an effective option for severe obesity.

Digital Health Applications

The guideline also emphasizes the importance of eHealth approaches and digital health applications that can already be prescribed today. A new chapter is dedicated to the stigmatization of people with obesity, which is widespread both in society and in the healthcare system.

Under the leadership of the German Obesity Society (DAG), 16 medical societies, associations and two self-help organizations participated in the creation of the guideline, supported by the Association of Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF) and the Clinical Guideline Service GmbH from Kiel. Researchers from the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) also contributed to the process of creating the guideline.