Integrating Obesity Education into Physiotherapy Curricula: A European Survey of Current Practice

Aim To explore current obesity-education curriculum content in entry-level physiotherapy programmes across European higher education institutions (HEIs). Design In collaboration with ‘Europe Region of World Physiotherapy’, an online cross-sectional survey of European HEIs was conducted to explore obesity related content in entry-level physiotherapy curricula. The survey was informed by the Obesity Medicine Education Collaborative competencies, the Irish Society for Chartered Physiotherapists guidance document on the role of physiotherapy in managing adults with obesity and a PROMINENCE (Promoting Obesity and Metabolic Rehabilitation INclusion in EU entry-level Physiotherapy Curricula) project think tank discussion between the partners. Results Responses were received from 78 of 293 HEIs (27% response rate) across 32 European countries. Of these, 56% (44/78) reported including obesity-specific content in their entry-level physiotherapy curriculum, mainly covering obesity as a disease, physical activity promotion, and lifestyle management. However, significant gaps remain: only 32% (25/78) included staging of obesity severity, 39% (30/78) covered taking a comprehensive obesity history, and 18% (14/78) addressed physiotherapy post-bariatric surgery. Few curricula included multidisciplinary management (e.g., pharmacotherapy, 22/78, 28%), communication with people with obesity (14/78, 18%), or the physiotherapist's advocacy role (≤18/78, ≤23%). Only 28% (22/78) believed their curriculum adequately prepares graduates to provide evidence-based care for people with obesity. Conclusion Findings highlight the critical need to enhance obesity education for physiotherapists, in order to reflect the latest evidence which recognises the complexity of obesity as a disease and the need for a person-centred, multidisciplinary, biopsychosocial approach.