Implementation of Obesity Interventions in Primary Health Care: Protocol for a Scoping Review of Barriers and Enablers.

Abstract

Obesity is a major public health challenge worldwide, driving chronic disease and health care costs. Primary health care (PHC) is a key setting for prevention, early identification, and management of obesity, yet implementation of evidence-based interventions remains limited. Identifying the barriers and enablers that influence adoption of obesity care in PHC is critical to strengthen delivery. This scoping review will systematically map and synthesize barriers and enablers to implementing obesity interventions in PHC, considering behavioral, nutritional, pharmacological, digital, and organizational approaches, across both adult and pediatric populations. The review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and be reported according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches will be conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect, complemented by gray literature from OpenGrey, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, and organizational websites. Eligible sources will include peer-reviewed and gray literature published between 2019 and 2025 in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, or Turkish. Two reviewers will independently screen, extract, and analyze data, with discrepancies resolved by consensus. Data will be synthesized descriptively and thematically, supported by NVivo, and results presented in tables, thematic maps, and conceptual diagrams. Expected Results Anticipated barriers include time constraints, limited provider training, stigma, scarce resources, and inadequate reimbursement models. Enablers are expected to include supportive health policies, training, patient engagement strategies, and team-based care models. This review will synthesize implementation factors affecting obesity care in PHC, informing scalable strategies and policy to improve obesity management worldwide.