OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical, economic, and patient-reported impact of obesity in the Asia-Pacific region.

METHODS: Using PRISMA guidelines, a multi-region systematic literature review (SLR) was performed to report the epidemiological, clinical, humanistic, and economic burden of obesity in selected Asia-Pacific and European countries, and Canada from 2018 to 2023. Here we report results for Asia Pacific from multi-country and country-specific studies (Japan, Australia, Korea, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong). Obesity was defined using body mass index (BMI); Australia, BMI ≥30; China, BMI ≥28; Taiwan, BMI ≥27 and Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, BMI ≥25. Original articles, conference abstracts, and grey literature, published in English or local languages, were eligible for inclusion.

RESULTS: From 220 publications in the global SLR, 91 publications reporting on 85 studies were identified for Asia-Pacific (Japan, n=12; Australia, n=30; Korea, n=22; China, n=34; Taiwan, n=3; Hong Kong, n=1; non-mutually exclusive). Highest prevalence estimates were seen in Korea (36.2%), and Australia (29%). Diabetes, hypertension, depression/anxiety, dyslipidaemia, and cardiovascular disease were the most frequently reported comorbidities. Other patient-reported measures included: self-reported depression, self-esteem, personal experience of obesity, and binge eating. Total direct and indirect patient-specific costs were high, with the main patient-specific costs including healthcare professional visits, hospitalization, prescription medication, out-of-pocket costs, and productivity loss caused by absenteeism.

CONCLUSIONS: Obesity is prevalent in the Asia-Pacific region with notable presence of weight-related metabolic, cardiovascular, and psychological comorbidities. Obesity notably impacted the psychosocial sphere, physical functioning, and HRQoL of people with obesity, leading to the elevated use of health resources.