Management Strategy of Obesity in the Public Health System: Proposal of a New Model to Optimize Human Resources and Patient’s Motivation

Introduction: Obesity, a disease characterized by an excess of adipose tissue, is a worldwide issue of growing interest in public health. Methods: The multifactorial etiology and pathogenesis of obesity strongly orient the scientific community in considering it as a chronic disease without an effective therapy that works for all patients affected by this clinical condition. This leads to a proliferation of non-scientific and dangerous treatment proposals and fake news. The Dietetic and Clinical Nutrition Unit at Bolzano Hospital in Italy has adopted a new strategy based on transparency to optimize time for the first visit and particularly to increase patients’ knowledge and motivation. Results: This new strategy provides a preliminary consultation between patients who ask for a nutritional examination and a clinical team composed of a clinician, a dietician and a psychologist. We discuss the preliminary results obtained during the period between February 2010 and March 2016.