Abstract:
This presentation explores obesity through the lens of social determinants of health, emphasizing how social, economic, and environmental factors drive unequal obesity risk and outcomes across populations. Obesity is not solely the result of individual behavior or biological predisposition; it is deeply shaped by where people live, work, learn, and access care. Factors such as income inequality, food insecurity, neighborhood design, access to safe spaces for physical activity, education level, chronic stress, cultural norms, and exposure to weight stigma all play a critical role in shaping metabolic health. These disparities influence not only obesity prevalence but also access to timely diagnosis, evidence-based treatments, anti-obesity medications, bariatric surgery, and long-term follow-up care. The presentation highlights the bidirectional relationship between obesity and social disadvantage, where obesity itself can worsen social marginalization through stigma, employment discrimination, and reduced healthcare engagement. The presentation concludes with practical strategies to address social disparities in obesity, including multidisciplinary care models, community-based interventions, culturally sensitive counseling, and policy advocacy. By shifting the narrative from blame to context, this session aims to equip clinicians, policymakers, and healthcare leaders with a deeper understanding of obesity as a socially patterned disease and to inspire action toward more just, effective, and sustainable obesity care.
