Exploration of the Obesity Researches in Bangladesh: A Scoping Review With 76 Studies

Obesity is now considered a global epidemic in many parts of the world. Bangladesh is now affected by obesity, which was formerly thought to be a problem of developed countries. Several studies have been conducted to investigate obesity in Bangladesh. However, individual studies may not represent the variability across populations, regions, age groups, or study designs. To map all the variables examined, the current study focused on examining the results of the original researches on obesity in Bangladesh.

We retrieved articles from PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, and so forth by following the PRISMA guidelines that were published between 2008 and 2025. This study thematically analyzed the findings of the 76 included studies in terms of prevalence, risk factors, and comorbidities associated with obesity.

The prevalence of obesity in Bangladeshi adults varied, ranging from 3.2% to 50.23%. It was more prevalent in urban areas. Abdominal obesity was more common, affecting up to 21% of individuals. Additionally, females were more likely to be obese than males. Family history, sleep disturbances, age, being female, higher education, and income were the most common risk factors for obesity in adults. Unhealthy eating habits, physical inactivity, urban areas, high income, watching TV and using computers, and heredity were associated with childhood obesity. In addition, increased age, high educational level and socioeconomic status, and physical inactivity were the major risk factors in women. Moreover, some comorbidities, such as diabetes, hypertension, and aberrant lipid profiles, are strongly linked to obesity in Bangladesh.

This study revealed a higher prevalence of obesity in urban dwellers and females, obesity-associated risk factors and comorbidities in Bangladesh. Awareness initiatives should be given top priority in government policies to reduce the burden. Therefore, future research should focus on Bangladesh's healthcare system to ensure obesity awareness.