# What is the Role of Primary Prevention of Obesity in an Age of Effective Pharmaceuticals?

## TL;DR

This paper reviews the role of obesity prevention strategies in the era of effective obesity drugs, emphasizing the need for continued investment in prevention.

## Contribution

The paper highlights the ongoing importance of prevention despite advances in pharmacotherapy for obesity.

## Key findings

- Nutritional labeling and sugar reduction policies have shown variable success globally.
- Tailored behavioral interventions are effective in preventing clinical obesity.
- Pharmacotherapies are effective but require attention to nutritional and metabolic risks.

## Abstract

To examine the evidence and continuing role of strategies for the primary prevention and treatment of obesity in the context of effective obesity pharmacotherapies, through a narrative review.

Global policies to improve nutritional labelling and reduce sugar-sweetened beverages consumption have been implemented worldwide (> 45 countries) with some success which varies by population and environment. Tailored behavioural interventions are effective and essential to reduce individual risk of progression from preclinical to clinical obesity. Pharmacotherapies are powerful treatment agents for clinical obesity but must consider nutritional and metabolic risks of use and discontinuation. The obesogenic environment continues to undermine individual agency to adopt healthier dietary and physical activity patterns. Population health informatics tools could inform tailored interventions based on real-time risk and contribute to obesity prevention and treatment.

Efforts to rebalance investment towards obesity prevention must continue to improve population health and reduce healthcare burden.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13679-025-00632-0.