Prevalence of Obesity and Comorbidities Among People With Obesity in China, Japan, and EU5
Author(s)
Amanda Woo, PhD1, Neeyor Bose, PhD2, Nikoletta Sternbach, BA3, Maria Choufany, PhD4, Leila Alaoui Sosse, Masters4, Shaloo Gupta, MS5.
1Oracle Life Sciences Singapore, Singapore, Singapore, 2Oracle Life Sciences, Singapore, Singapore, 3Oracle Life Science, Austin, TX, USA, 4Oracle Life Sciences, Paris, France, 5Oracle Life Sciences, Austin, TX, USA.
1Oracle Life Sciences Singapore, Singapore, Singapore, 2Oracle Life Sciences, Singapore, Singapore, 3Oracle Life Science, Austin, TX, USA, 4Oracle Life Sciences, Paris, France, 5Oracle Life Sciences, Austin, TX, USA.
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the prevalence of obesity and comorbidities among people with obesity (PwO) in China, Japan, and EU5.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study used self-reported data from the National Health and Wellness Survey in China (n=20,001), Japan (n=30,001), and EU5 (Germany [n=14,997], France [n=14,999], Italy [n=10,000], Spain [n=7,026], UK [n=15,000]). PwO were identified as respondents were aged ≥18 years with body mass index (BMI) ≥25, and further subgrouped into Class I (BMI 30-34.9), Class II (BMI 35-39.9), and Class III (BMI≥40). Demographic characteristics, obesity and comorbidity prevalence were descriptively reported by country and class.
RESULTS: Obesity prevalence was higher in the EU5 (min-max: 41.8-56.8%) than China (25.6%) and Japan (18.6%), with UK having the highest prevalence (56.8%). Among PwO, Class III obesity prevalence was highest in China (22.9%) than other countries (3.2-7.9%). The overall comorbidity burden (Charlson Comorbidity Index, CCI) was lower among PwO in China (0.13-0.32) than Japan (0.36-0.41) and EU5 (0.5-0.9). However, obesity-associated conditions were more prevalent in the EU5 than Japan and China, e.g., hypertension (EU5: 25.6-53.0% vs. Japan: 13.9-32.4% vs. China: 8.9-26.5%), high cholesterol (EU5: 14.9-42.7% vs. Japan: 10.2-17.8% vs. China: 2.9-12.7%), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) (EU5: 2.1-14.0% vs. Japan: 0.6-2.4% vs. China: 2.5-15.7%), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) (EU5: 0.5-3.7% vs. Japan: 0.6-2.5% vs. China: 1.5-2.2), and type II diabetes (EU5: 11.1-23.9% vs. Japan: 7.2-17.7% vs. China: 1.2-7.1%). Depression was also higher among PwO in EU5 (19.6-49.8%) than in Japan (15.7-20.3%) and China (6.1-16.3%). Variations in comorbidity burden were observed across obesity classes.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlighted the distinctive epidemiology of obesity across regions, suggesting the need for regional-specific public health policies to manage obesity. While the comorbidity burden was substantially higher in EU5, China’s high prevalence of Class III obesity among PwO suggests an unmet need, including undiagnosed comorbidities within this population.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study used self-reported data from the National Health and Wellness Survey in China (n=20,001), Japan (n=30,001), and EU5 (Germany [n=14,997], France [n=14,999], Italy [n=10,000], Spain [n=7,026], UK [n=15,000]). PwO were identified as respondents were aged ≥18 years with body mass index (BMI) ≥25, and further subgrouped into Class I (BMI 30-34.9), Class II (BMI 35-39.9), and Class III (BMI≥40). Demographic characteristics, obesity and comorbidity prevalence were descriptively reported by country and class.
RESULTS: Obesity prevalence was higher in the EU5 (min-max: 41.8-56.8%) than China (25.6%) and Japan (18.6%), with UK having the highest prevalence (56.8%). Among PwO, Class III obesity prevalence was highest in China (22.9%) than other countries (3.2-7.9%). The overall comorbidity burden (Charlson Comorbidity Index, CCI) was lower among PwO in China (0.13-0.32) than Japan (0.36-0.41) and EU5 (0.5-0.9). However, obesity-associated conditions were more prevalent in the EU5 than Japan and China, e.g., hypertension (EU5: 25.6-53.0% vs. Japan: 13.9-32.4% vs. China: 8.9-26.5%), high cholesterol (EU5: 14.9-42.7% vs. Japan: 10.2-17.8% vs. China: 2.9-12.7%), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) (EU5: 2.1-14.0% vs. Japan: 0.6-2.4% vs. China: 2.5-15.7%), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) (EU5: 0.5-3.7% vs. Japan: 0.6-2.5% vs. China: 1.5-2.2), and type II diabetes (EU5: 11.1-23.9% vs. Japan: 7.2-17.7% vs. China: 1.2-7.1%). Depression was also higher among PwO in EU5 (19.6-49.8%) than in Japan (15.7-20.3%) and China (6.1-16.3%). Variations in comorbidity burden were observed across obesity classes.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlighted the distinctive epidemiology of obesity across regions, suggesting the need for regional-specific public health policies to manage obesity. While the comorbidity burden was substantially higher in EU5, China’s high prevalence of Class III obesity among PwO suggests an unmet need, including undiagnosed comorbidities within this population.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EPH192
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity), No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas