# 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.

## Key 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.