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  • Perspective
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Behavior, Psychology and Sociology

Love and compassion: key ingredients in the treatment of obesity

International Journal of Obesity (2026)Cite this article

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Abstract

Obesity management has traditionally focused on diet, physical activity, and medical interventions, while emotional and relational factors such as compassion, connection, and the reduction of shame remain underemphasized. Emerging evidence highlights the roles of love and compassion—defined as care, connection, and kindness toward oneself and others—as potential catalysts for sustainable lifestyle change. Compassion-based approaches reduce shame, stigma, and emotional dysregulation, thereby supporting self-care and motivation. This Perspective advances the view that integrating love and compassion into obesity treatment offers a more humane and potentially more effective framework for improving health and well-being among individuals living with obesity.

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Acknowledgements

J-PC is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the CHEO Research Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Jean-Philippe Chaput

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Jean-Philippe Chaput

  3. School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Jean-Philippe Chaput

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  1. Jean-Philippe Chaput
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J-PC conceptualized and wrote the article.

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Correspondence to Jean-Philippe Chaput.

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Chaput, JP. Love and compassion: key ingredients in the treatment of obesity. Int J Obes (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-026-02031-4

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