DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sasjm.2026.v12i09.033

Pages: 1005-1012

Background: Obesity is a chronic, relapsing, multifactorial disease that places a substantial burden on health systems worldwide and is highly prevalent in Gulf countries, including Qatar. Primary care is strategically positioned to identify excess adiposity, assess obesity-related risk, initiate lifestyle treatment, coordinate multidisciplinary care, and provide longitudinal follow-up. Objective: This narrative review examines contemporary patterns of obesity management in primary care, with particular attention to lifestyle interventions, structured programmes, pharmacotherapy, implementation barriers, and the evolving model of obesity care in Qatar. Methods: A focused narrative synthesis was undertaken using recent international guidelines, national policy documents, systematic reviews, and primary-care literature relevant to adult overweight and obesity. Particular emphasis was placed on evidence and guidance published from 2023 to 2026 and on sources describing Qatar’s primary healthcare system. Results: Current evidence supports comprehensive lifestyle intervention as the foundation of obesity care. Effective programmes combine individualized dietary energy reduction, progressive physical activity, behavioural strategies, goal setting, self-monitoring, and repeated follow-up. Brief primary-care counselling can facilitate behaviour change, but isolated advice is generally less effective than structured, intensive, multidisciplinary support. Qatar has developed Healthy Lifestyle clinics, Wellness Centres, health-coaching services, and national clinical guidance, yet implementation challenges remain, including time constraints, variable referral uptake, cultural and language considerations, and the need to integrate newer anti-obesity medications within long-term care pathways. Conclusion: Obesity management in primary care should move beyond episodic advice toward a chronic-disease model that combines systematic identification, risk stratification, comprehensive