Experiences and overall impact reported by people living with obesity: results from a multinational study

To explore the impact of obesity on clinical outcomes, health-related quality of life, emotional well-being, and work productivity in people/patients with obesity across six countries by body mass index and the presence of complications.

Adelphi Real World Obesity Disease Specific Programme™ captured data related to physicians and their consulting people/patients with obesity on a weight management program or anti-obesity medication in Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates from April to December 2022. Physicians reported data for up to eight qualifying people/patients with obesity. People/patients with obesity voluntarily completed outcome measures: 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, emotional well-being, and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment.

Of 1506 people/patients with obesity, 58% were female (mean ± standard deviation age: 41 ± 12.7 years; body mass index: 32.3 kg/m² ± 7.7 kg/m²). Overall, 82% had ⩾1 complication (median and interquartile range: 2.0 (1.0-3.0)). People/patients with obesity struggled with weight for a mean ± SD of 64.1 ± 86.6 months with a median (interquartile range) of 3.0 (2.0-5.0) weight-loss attempts. Mean ± standard deviation 36-Item Short Form Health Survey scores for people/patients with obesity above the obesity threshold showed impairment in general health (42.3 ± 11.5), social functioning (44.3 ± 9.2), role-emotional (46.0 ± 9.3), and mental health (45.7 ± 9.6). People/patients with obesity with complications showed similar impairment. People/patients with obesity reported bother/embarrassment about their weight, with 72% worried about future weight gain. Work productivity and activity impairment scores among people/patients with obesity above the obesity threshold showed impairment in activity (36%), overall work (34%), and presenteeism (31%). Findings were similar for people/patients with obesity with complications.

Results suggest that obesity alongside the presence of complications negatively impacts health-related quality of life, emotional well-being, and work productivity, reinforcing the need for comprehensive interventions for this complex health issue.