Modern Nutritional Strategies in the Prevention and Control of Obesity: A Comprehensive Review

ABSTRACT:

Obesity has grown into one of the most acute global health challenges, with prevalence rates tripling over the past five decades. The aim of this comprehensive review is to present contemporary nutritional strategies for obesity prevention and management by synthesizing evidence from recent clinical trials, meta-analyses, and observational studies regarding multiple dietary approaches: intermittent fasting, Mediterranean diet, plant-based diets, precision nutrition, and microbiome-targeted interventions. Current clinical guidelines emphasize personalized approaches to obesity care, given the wide variability in individual responses to dietary interventions. The integration of behavioral modifications, technological innovations, and gut microbiome modulation represents a paradigm shift from traditional calorie-restriction approaches toward comprehensive, individualized strategies. There is evidence that long-term weight control should be considered as management of a chronic disease, with long-term behavioral changes and improvements in overall health rather than just weight loss. This review underlines the multifaceted nature of obesity management and points out that evidence-based and patient-centered nutritional interventions will be very important for this purpose.

Keywords: Obesity, Nutritional Strategies, Intermittent Fasting, Mediterranean Diet, Plant-Based Diet, Precision Nutrition, Gut Microbiome, Weight Management.