Clinical management, economic and quality-of-life impacts among consulting people with obesity in Brazil: results from a real-world survey

TL;DR

This study in Brazil shows that obesity significantly affects people's work, finances, and quality of life, highlighting the need for better management strategies.

Contribution

The study provides real-world data on obesity management and its impacts in Brazil, emphasizing the need for improved interventions.

Findings

Most people with obesity in Brazil reported financial and emotional impacts due to their condition.

Work and activity impairment increased with higher BMI categories.

Current weight management strategies include diet and prescription drugs, but more effective solutions are needed.

Abstract

Obesity prevalence is increasing in Brazil. Real-world observational data
were used to understand clinical weight management practice, and the
economic and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) impact of obesity.

Data were derived from the Adelphi Real World Obesity Disease Specific
Programme (DSP)™, a cross-sectional survey of people with obesity
(PwO) and treating physicians, conducted in Brazil May-October 2022.
Physicians reported demographic/clinical characteristics and
current/previous weight management. PwO reported emotional/financial impact
of obesity, and completed patient-reported outcomes on HRQoL, and
activity/work impairment.

In total, 99 physicians reported on 895 PwO. Mean ± SD PwO age was
43.1 ± 13.7, majority were female (60.9%) and white (71.7%). Mean
± SD BMI at survey was 33.8 ± 9.4 with 40.5%, 23.2% and 11.1%
of PwO having class 1, 2 or 3 obesity. Weight management was most commonly
at PwO request (43.4%), and consisted of prescription weight loss drug
(53.6%), and dietician or physician-supervised diets (79.9% and 55.1%). Most
PwO reported financial impact due to obesity treatment and reported being
bothered/embarrassed by their weight. SF-36v2 physical summary scores ranged
from 52.4 ± 9.3 to 45.6 ± 8.6 and mental summary scores from
45.5 ± 9.3 to 42.2 ± 12.3 (BMI < 30 to class 3 obesity).
Overall work and activity impairment ranged from 20.0 ± 22.7 to 42.4
± 28.4 (BMI < 30 and class 2 obesity) and from 24.7 ± 25.2
to 43.2 ± 32.5 (BMI < 30 to class 3 obesity), and 3.2% did not
work due to obesity.

PwO have a substantial impact on work, and financial, emotional and
quality-of-life burden. Our data highlight the need for more efficacious
obesity management, to help reduce work and activity impairment, improve
quality of life.

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