Adherence is how closely a patient follows a treatment plan over time. It includes taking medicine as prescribed, attending follow-up visits, and keeping to diet or monitoring advice. In obesity care, adherence is often a major driver of outcome because even an effective drug can lose much of its benefit if the plan is stopped early or followed inconsistently.
In practice, adherence matters because it helps clinicians judge whether a treatment is working or whether the problem is missed doses, side effects, or poor support. Low adherence can make results look weaker than the therapy really is, while good adherence gives a clearer picture of clinical response. Digital tools, reminders, and regular check-ins are often used to support adherence and catch problems before they turn into treatment failure.