WP1: Obesity and preventable inequalities

Work Package 1 focuses on the societal and structural dimensions of obesity and how inequalities arise across the healthcare system and in society more broadly.

Social and health inequities are shaped by a combination of socio-economic and geographical conditions, healthcare-related factors such as stigma and insufficient knowledge, and patient-level factors including health literacy and ethnicity. WP1 aims to identify preventable barriers related to referral, diagnosis, and treatment in people living with obesity.

By combining register-based studies with qualitative and health economic approaches, the work package generates knowledge to support more equitable healthcare and improve clinical pathways.

 

Sub-work packages

WP1a - Socio-economic and geographical context

(Lead: Charlotte Overgaard)

WP1a Investigates inequalities related to the presence of obesity in healthcare use, referral patterns, and treatment of obesity-related diseases, as well as the broader social and health consequences of obesity.

This includes register-based cohort studies linking clinical and national registry data, alongside ethnographic field studies exploring interactions between patients and healthcare professionals.

WP1b - Delayed diagnosis of disease

(Lead: Charlotte Overgaard)

WP1b Explores whether people living with obesity experience delays in diagnosis of cancer and severe non-malignant diseases, and identifies where in the care trajectory these delays occur.

The studies focus on patient pathways, including symptom recognition, referral, and access to specialized care, and examine both clinical data and patient and professional perspectives.

WP1c - Obesity in ethnic minorities

(Lead: Chalotte Willemann Stecher) 

WP1c Examines how cultural, social, and structural factors influence obesity and health outcomes in ethnic minority populations, including differences in diet, physical activity, and disease patterns.

The work also explores early signs of obesity-related disease in children in collaboration with school health services.

WP1d - Cost-effectiveness of screening

(Lead: Tue Kjølhede)

WP1d Assesses the clinical impact and cost-effectiveness of systematic screening for obesity-related diseases, with a focus on improving early detection and healthcare planning.

The work includes analysis of patient pathways and the use of health economic models to evaluate long-term outcomes and support evidence-based implementation of screening strategies.