Table 22.

Focus areas for future research in obesity

Epidemiology

Regional variation in obesity and its determinants

Gender and age determinants of obesity

Secular trends in obesity prevalence

Etiology

Prevalence of non-exogenous obesity

Obesity in endocrine disorders

Sarcopenic obesity

Diagnosis

Re-look at BMI cutoffs for overweight/obesity diagnosis

Clinical features

The Indian baro-phenotype (adipose tissue topography)

Normative data for whole body DEXA in various age groups

Complications and comorbidities in obesity

Prevention

Role of various public health/community-oriented strategies

Role of various individual/family-target strategies

Utilization of traditional/religious/community-leaders in effective public health messaging

Social marketing for weight optimization

Non-pharmacological management

Role of various dietary patterns and compositions

Role of various physical activity/exercise regimens

Characterization of behavioral or motivational therapeutic interventions

Pharmacological management

Effectiveness and tolerability of various drugs for obesity management

Repurposing psychotropic and metabolic drugs, as well as complementary medication, for use in obesity