Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity

Behavioral and Psychosocial Aspects in the Management and Treatment of Diabetes and Obesity

Diabetes and obesity remain major challenges for modern societies, not only because of their rising prevalence but also due to the substantial burden they place on people living with these conditions and their families. Although medical care has advanced significantly—with new medications, improved insulin formulations, and modern technologies—clinical outcomes often remain suboptimal. Increasing evidence highlights that behavioral and psychosocial factors play a crucial role in the effectiveness of treatment and long-term outcomes. Psychological functioning, self-management behaviors, emotional distress, and social context interact with biological and medical factors in shaping the course of diabetes and obesity.

It seems unlikely that progress in managing diabetes and obesity will result from identifying a single crucial factor. Rather, improvement is expected to come from recognizing and addressing a range of contributing factors.

Despite remarkable progress in pharmacotherapy and technological innovations, many individuals still experience challenges achieving optimal disease management. Behavioral barriers, psychosocial burden, and difficulties in sustaining effective self-management remain major contributors to unmet needs in diabetes and obesity care. Improving behavioral and psychosocial support may therefore represent one of the most transformative avenues for enhancing treatment outcomes. This Article Collection aims to gather studies that deepen understanding of behavioral and psychosocial mechanisms and translate this knowledge into practical strategies that can improve management, adherence, and quality of life.

This Collection focuses exclusively on behavioral and psychosocial aspects relevant to the management and treatment of diabetes and obesity. We particularly welcome submissions addressing:

• Behavioral determinants of diabetes and obesity management: self-care behaviors, adherence, lifestyle patterns, motivation, decision-making, and behavioral interventions.
• Psychosocial mechanisms influencing the course and treatment of diabetes and obesity: emotional distress, coping styles, well-being, social support, stigma, self-efficacy, illness perceptions.
• Behavioral and psychosocial aspects of technology use: psychological adaptation to diabetes technologies, human-technology interaction, digital burden, digital literacy, and the impact of technology on self-management behaviors.
• Interventions integrating behavioral and psychosocial components: structured education, psychotherapy, digital behavioral programs, and multidisciplinary approaches.
• Psychosocial and behavioral dimensions of obesity as a risk factor for diabetes: lifestyle behaviors, weight-related distress, family and social influences.

All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo desk assessment and a full peer-review.

Please review the journal scope  and  author submission instructions  prior to submitting a manuscript as it will be rejected if it does not fall within the scope of the journal.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is the 30th of September 2026

Please contact Menghan Li at  [email protected] with any queries and discount codes regarding this Article Collection.