Primary prevention aims to prevent the disease of obesity before it ever occurs.
Primary prevention targets risk factors of obesity compared to health promotion which enables people to increase, and to improve, their health.
Primary prevention is distinct from secondary prevention, which means early detection, diagnosis and treatment as to stop the progression of obesity and the development of health consequences, and tertiary prevention which means treating and managing the disease of obesity to reduce its long lasting effects.
Bowman-Busato, J., Schreurs, L., Halford, J.C.G. et al. Providing a common language for obesity: the European Association for the Study of Obesity obesity taxonomy. Int J Obes (2024).