The Heart of Health: Person-Centred Solutions for Tackling Obesity in the Caribbean

Abstract

Background: Obesity has emerged as a critical public health issue across the Caribbean, with significant implications for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. Traditional approaches to addressing obesity, which focus on population-wide strategies, have often failed to acknowledge the individual and contextual factors that drive obesity rates in the region. A person-centred approach offers a more comprehensive framework that emphasizes individualized care, cultural sen-sitivity, and multidisciplinary engagement.
Objective: This paper proposes a shift towards a person-centred approach in obesity prevention and management in the Caribbean, highlighting its potential to address the unique cultural, social, and environmental determinants of obesity in the region.
Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted through PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar, focusing on studies published between 2014 and 2024. The review analyzed person-centred care models, obesity prevalence, and interventions specifically within the Caribbean context.
Results: The literature reveals high rates of obesity in the Caribbean with a notable lack of culturally tailored interventions. Person-centred models—characterized by individualizedassessment, goal setting, culturally appropriate interventions and psychosocial support—show promise in enhancing obesity management outcomes. Integration of multidisciplinary teams and community engagement are key components of this model.
Conclusion: A person-centred approach addresses the limitations of population-level interventions by recognizing the socioeconomic, cultural, and psychological factors contributing to obesity in the Caribbean. Such an approach can promote sustainable behavior changes and improve health outcomes through tailored, individualized care.