Recent trends in intensive treatments of obesity: Is academic research matching public interest?

BACKGROUND: The demand and the utilization of intensive treatments of obesity have been increased tremendously.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate trends in interest related to the intensive treatments of obesity in both academic research and the public domain, and assess whether they match each other.

SETTING: The BMI Clinic, Double Bay, New South Wales, Australia.

METHODS: Intensive treatment of obesity is defined as meal replacement, pharmacologic treatments, and surgical or endoscopic bariatric procedures identified by the national guidelines. To identify the academic research interests, the number of academic research publications for each search topic was identified as converted into relative popularity. To identify the public's interests, Google Trends relative search volume and Twitter message relative intensity for each topic was mined to identify the most recent interests in intensive obesity treatment among the public.

RESULTS: There was an increase in academic publications in all treatment domains between 2007 and 2017, but that the research emphasis correlated poorly with public interest. Between 2007 and 2017, the most popular and increasing academic research interest in the intensive treatment of obesity was bariatric surgery, followed by weight loss medication. In 2007, the most popular public-interest treatment was weight loss medication followed by bariatric surgery. In contrast, in 2017, meal replacement and bariatric surgery were equally popular, while the interests in weight loss medication declined. Significant seasonal patterns were also recognized for the public's interests.

CONCLUSION: Academic research and public interest are not currently sufficiently aligned in the area of obesity treatment.