Overweight and Obesity

This campaign is an initiative of Eli Lilly Benelux.

Obesity is a chronic disease with multiple causes, and not simply a matter of willpower.^1,2 The good news: no one has to face it alone. As soon as you start wondering about your weight, the first step is to talk to a healthcare professional.^2,3 What matters most is taking that first step, and not facing the situation alone.

The Body Mass Index is a simple first reference point for gauging your body composition. Two key thresholds are worth remembering:¹

• Overweight: a BMI of 25 kg/m² or above.
• Obesity: a BMI of 30 kg/m² or above.

BMI is a useful starting point, but it doesn't tell the whole story: waist circumference, a comprehensive medical history and an appropriate physical examination are also important.^2,3 The severity of obesity and the type of support needed also depend on other factors, which we explain below.

Obesity is now recognised as a chronic, complex and often relapsing disease.^1,2 It results from the interaction of many factors: genetic, hormonal and metabolic, but also psychological, environmental and social (diet, physical inactivity, stress, sleep, family history).² Reducing it to a simple lack of willpower does not reflect the medical reality.

Another key point: the body actively defends its weight. After weight loss, it triggers compensatory mechanisms, increased hunger, reduced satiety, a slower metabolism, that promote weight regain.⁴ This is what makes lasting weight loss difficult, and explains the "yo-yo" effect that so many people experience. It is not a matter of motivation, but of biology.

Understanding the disease helps to let go of self-blame: living with obesity is not a personal failure. Asking a healthcare professional for help is a legitimate and effective step, exactly as it would be for any other chronic disease.

Managing obesity is not the same for everyone: it adapts to the severity of the situation and to each person's needs. And that severity is not defined by BMI alone, it also takes into account associated diseases, the impact on daily life and quality of life, and the presence of eating or psychological difficulties.^3,5

Support from a healthcare professional as your entry point

Depending on your situation, different healthcare professionals can be your entry point into the care pathway: General Practitioner, Dietitian, Endocrinologist, Psychologist, Physiotherapist or Obesity Specialist. They assess your overall health and support you over time. For many people, tailored advice and regular follow-up are already enough to set lasting change in motion. When obesity is accompanied by complications (such as high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol), weighs on daily life, or is associated with eating disorders or psychological difficulties, the involvement of several of these professionals becomes valuable. They then work together and can refer you, if needed, to other healthcare professionals.^2,3

A multidisciplinary team for the most severe situations

In cases of severe obesity, multiple complications, or when obesity surgery is being considered, care within a hospital obesity clinic is recommended.² There, a multidisciplinary team brings together Nutrition Specialists, Endocrinologists, Surgeons, Dietitians, Psychologists, Physiotherapists and Specialised Nurses. In Belgium, some hospitals have a dedicated obesity clinic, several of which are recognised as European reference centres (EASO), as Collaborating Centres for Obesity Management (COMs).⁶

To define the most suitable support, the healthcare professional supporting you draws on several elements:^3,7

• How your weight has evolved in recent years, and whether you have had previous follow-up;
• Whether or not there are diseases associated with obesity, and how severe they are;
• The impact of obesity on your quality of life;
• The possible presence of psychological or eating disorders;
• Your lifestyle and your motivations;
• Your family, social and economic situation.

There is no single solution: management combines several approaches, chosen with the healthcare professionals supporting you and tailored to your situation.^2,3

• Lifestyle and behavioural support: personalised nutritional guidance (without restrictive dieting, which is not recommended⁷), gradual and adapted physical activity, and attention to sleep, stress and psychological well-being.^2,3
• Medical treatments: depending on the situation, the appropriateness of a medicinal treatment may be assessed, as part of comprehensive follow-up. These options are discussed with a healthcare professional, who determines the indication.^2,3
• Obesity surgery: considered in severe situations, according to precise medical criteria and reimbursement conditions (see the FAQ).⁸

The goal isn't the number on the scale: what matters most is sustainably improving your health and quality of life. And because obesity is a chronic disease, support is designed for the long term.²

How do I know if I am overweight or living with obesity?

The first reference point is BMI: a BMI of 25 kg/m² or above suggests overweight, and a BMI of 30 kg/m² or above suggests obesity.¹ This calculation alone is not enough, however: only a healthcare professional can provide a full assessment, taking your overall health into account.

Why is it so hard to lose weight?

Because the body defends its weight. Faced with weight loss, it increases hunger, reduces satiety and slows metabolism in order to regain the lost kilos.⁴ This is not a lack of willpower: it is a biological mechanism, which is why medical support often makes the difference.

Who is my first point of contact for support?

A healthcare professional. They are the entry point to the care pathway: they assess your situation, provide follow-up and, if necessary, refer you to other appropriate healthcare professionals.^2,3

Is obesity surgery an option in Belgium?

In Belgium, yes. Obesity surgery (bariatric surgery) may be considered in cases of severe to very severe obesity, generally after medical management has been unsuccessful, according to precise medical criteria and reimbursement conditions defined by the Belgian health authorities.⁸ The decision is made within a multidisciplinary consultation, together with your treating doctor.

The first step is to talk about it. Have a conversation with a healthcare professional: together, you can explore the options best suited to your situation, at your own pace.

The list of healthcare professionals accessible from this article is compiled and managed exclusively by Doctoranytime. The list is open to all healthcare professionals registered on Doctoranytime: none are excluded, and it is based solely on the expertise declared by the practitioners themselves. Eli Lilly is not involved in the selection, display order or promotion of the practitioners included in this list.

This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for personalized medical advice.

CMAT-50686 - October 2026 E.R.: Eli Lilly Benelux 1/4B Markiesstraat, 1000 Brussels