Perceptions, Attitudes, Behaviours and Barriers in Obesity Care: Findings from the ACTION - Vietnam Study

Nam Quang Tran; Dao Nguyen Thi Bich; Thu Nghiem Nguyet; Tuan Nguyen Anh; Nghi Le Huu; Thanh Dau Ba; You Sun Ha

doi:10.15605/jafes.040.01.17

Authors

Nam Quang Tran University Medical Center https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5481-2341
Dao Nguyen Thi Bich Tam Duc Heart Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Thu Nghiem Nguyet Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tuan Nguyen Anh 108 Military Central Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
Nghi Le Huu Novo Nordisk A/S, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Thanh Dau Ba Novo Nordisk A/S, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4077-1506
You Sun Ha Novo Nordisk A/S, Seoul, South Korea

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15605/jafes.040.01.17

Keywords:

barriers to weight loss, healthcare professionals, patients with obesity, Vietnam, weight management

Abstract

Objective. The ACTION Asia Pacific (ACTION-APAC) study was designed to identify the perceptions, attitudes, behaviours and potential barriers to effective obesity management in people with obesity (PwO) and healthcare professionals (HCPs) in 9 countries of Southeast Asia. This study represents the findings in Vietnam.

Methodology. This cross-sectional, non-interventional study gathered information from Vietnamese PwO (n = 1000) and HCPs (n = 200) via an anonymous online survey between April and May 2022.

Results. The majority of PwO (67%) and HCPs (80%) believed that obesity is a chronic disease that profoundly impacts a person’s overall health (76% PwO, 81% HCPs). About 58% of PwO agreed that managing weight loss was solely their responsibility. Meanwhile, 76% of HCPs believed they should actively contribute to their patients’ weight loss efforts. Most of the PwO (82.7%) had attempted weight loss with an average of four times. PwO and HCPs cited lack of exercise (63% vs. 86%) and lack of motivation (60% vs. 80%) as the principal barriers to weight loss. HCPs cited PwOs' lack of interest (52%) and motivation to lose weight (45%) as top reasons for not discussing weight.

Conclusion. The study emphasised raising awareness for obesity management among PwO and HCPs and suggested early weight management conversations with HCPs.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Nam Quang Tran, University Medical Center

Endocrinology Department of University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Dao Nguyen Thi Bich, Tam Duc Heart Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Associate Professor, Tam Duc Heart Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Thu Nghiem Nguyet, Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam

Clinical Nutrition Center, Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam

Tuan Nguyen Anh, 108 Military Central Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam

Associate Professor, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, 108 Military Central Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam

Nghi Le Huu, Novo Nordisk A/S, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Head of Medical (CMRQ Director), Novo Nordisk A/S, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Thanh Dau Ba, Novo Nordisk A/S, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Medical Science Liaison, Novo Nordisk A/S, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

You Sun Ha, Novo Nordisk A/S, Seoul, South Korea

Senior Medical Manager, Novo Nordisk A/S, Seoul, South Korea

References

1. Kim BY, Kang SM, Kang JH, et al. 2020 Korean Society for the Study of Obesity Guidelines for the management of obesity in Korea. J Obes Metab Syndr. 2021;30(2):81-92. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34045368 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8277596 https://doi.org/10.7570/jomes21022

2. Hughes CA, Ahern AL, Kasetty H, et al. Changing the narrative around obesity in the UK: A survey of people with obesity and healthcare professionals from the ACTION-IO study. BMJ Open. 2021;11(6):e045616. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34193488 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8246368 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045616

3. Tham KW, Abdul Ghani R, Cua SC, et al. Obesity in South and Southeast Asia-A new consensus on care and management. Obes Rev. 2023;24(2):e13520. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36453081 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10078503 https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13520

4. Pham T, Bui L, Giovannucci E, et al. Prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity and their association with metabolic-related conditions in Vietnamese adults: An analysis of Vietnam STEPS survey 2009 and 2015. Lancet Reg Health West Pac. 2023;39:100859. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37547595 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10400857 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100859

5. Tan PY, Som SV, Nguyen SD, et al. Demographic variation and socioeconomic inequalities in all forms of malnutrition among children aged 6 months to 9 years: findings from the Vietnamese General Nutrition Survey 2020. BMJ Public Health 2025;3:e001177. https://doi.org/10.1136/ bmjph-2024-001177

6. Minh H, Long K. Landscape analysis on childhood overweight and obesity: Vietnam: UNICEF; 2021. https://www.unicef.org/eap/media/12176/file

7. Nguyen TT, Trevisan M. Vietnam a country in transition: Health challenges. BMJ Nutr Prev Health. 2020;3(1):60-6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33235972 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7664505 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjnph-2020-000069

8. Van Minh H, Khuong DQL, Tran TA, Do HP, Watson F, Lobstein T. Childhood overweight and obesity in Vietnam: A landscape analysis of the extent and risk factors. Inquiry. 2023;60:00469580231154651. https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580231154651

9. National strategy for prevention and control of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and other non-communicable diseases 2015–2025. Hanoi, Vietnam: Ministry of Health. Accessed on November 16, 2023. https://www.iccp-portal.org/system/files/plans/VNM_B3_Quyet%20dinh%20TTg%20phe%20duyet%20chien%20luoc%20NCD.pdf

10. Iwabu M, Yamauchi T, Shimomura I, Eguchi K, Ogawa Y. Perceptions, attitudes and barriers to obesity management: Japanese data from the ACTION-IO study. J Diabetes Investig. 2021;12(5):845-58. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33021048 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8089010 https://doi.org/10.1111/jdi.13427

11. Lim S, Oh B, Lee SH, Kim YH, Ha Y, Kang JH. Perceptions, attitudes, behaviors, and barriers to effective obesity care in South Korea: Results from the ACTION-IO study. J Obes Metab Syndr. 2020;29(2):133-42. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32507770 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7338493 https://doi.org/10.7570/jomes20013

12. Sharma AM, Bélanger A, Carson V, et al. Perceptions of barriers to effective obesity management in Canada: Results from the ACTION study. Clin Obes. 2019;9(5):e12329. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31294535 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6771494 https://doi.org/10.1111/cob.12329

13. Caterson ID, Alfadda AA, Auerbach P, et al. Gaps to bridge: Misalignment between perception, reality and actions in obesity. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2019;21(8):1914-24. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31032548 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6767048 https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.13752

14. Tham KW, Ahmed A, Boonyavarakul A, et al. ACTION APAC: Understanding perceptions, attitudes and behaviours in obesity and its management across South and Southeast Asia. Clin Obes. 2024:e12644. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38332544 https://doi.org/10.1111/cob.12644

15. Lobstein T, Brinsden HMN. World Obesity Atlas 2022. London: Ludgate House; 2022. https://www.worldobesityday.org/assets/downloads/World_Obesity_Atlas_2022_WEB.pdf

16. Haam JH, Kim BT, Kim EM, et al. Diagnosis of obesity: 2022 update of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Obesity by the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity. J Obes Metab Syndr. 2023;32(2):121-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37386771 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10327686 https://doi.org/10.7570/jomes23031

17. Dicker D, Kornboim B, Bachrach R, Shehadeh N, Potesman-Yona S, Segal-Lieberman G. ACTION-IO as a platform to understand differences in perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors of people with obesity and physicians across countries - the Israeli experience. Isr J Health Policy Res. 2020;9(1):56. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33087177 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7579877 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13584-020-00404-2

18. Dhurandhar NV, Kyle T, Stevenin B, Tomaszewski K. Predictors of weight loss outcomes in obesity care: Results of the national ACTION study. BMC Public Health. 2019;19(1):1422. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31666040 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6820914 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7669-1.

19. Rubino F, Puhl RM, Cummings DE, et al. Joint international consensus statement for ending stigma of obesity. Nat Med. 2020;26(4):485-97. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32127716 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7154011 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-0803-x

20. Goff AJ, Lee Y, Tham KW. Weight bias and stigma in healthcare professionals: A narrative review with a Singapore lens. Singapore Med J. 2023;64(3):155-62. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36876621 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10071861 https://doi.org/10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2022-229

21. Schmidt AM, Jubran M, Salivar EG, Brochu PM. Couples losing kinship: A systematic review of weight stigma in romantic relationships. J Soc Issues. 2022;79(1):196-231. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12542

22. Capehorn MS, Hinchliffe N, Cook D, et al. Recommendations from a Working Group on Obesity Care Competencies for Healthcare Education in the UK: A report by the Steering Committee. Adv Ther. 2022;39(6):3019-30. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35451741 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9027014 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-022-02108-2

23. Westbury S, Oyebode O, van Rens T, Barber TM. Obesity stigma: Causes, consequences, and potential solutions. Curr Obes Rep. 2023;12(1):10-23. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36781624 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9985585 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-023-00495-3