A comparative analysis of the disease burden attributable to high BMI in Asia, Europe and Africa
Huange Cai, Zhangsheng Dai, Xiaocong Lin, Kaibin FangAbstract
Objective:
To comprehensively assess and compare the disease burden attributable to high BMI and its epidemiological trends across Asia, Africa and Europe from 1990 to 2023.
Design:
A secondary cross-sectional and temporal trend analysis of data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 study.
Setting:
Countries and territories in Asia, Europe and Africa.
Participants:
Population-level data from the GBD 2023 study covering the three continents.
Results:
In 2023, Asia recorded 2 877 582 deaths (95 % uncertainty interval (UI): 1 465 996–4 507 685) and 120 182 714 Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY) (56 308 955–186 506 210) attributable to high BMI, with age-standardised death and DALY rates of 30·83 (14·87–49·89) and 1253·75 (573·14–1984·15) per 100 000, respectively. Europe recorded 1 675 848 deaths (791 226–2 558 882) and 49 401 025 DALY (20 994 181–77 166 219), with corresponding rates of 52·52 (24·64–80·78) and 1824·14 (773·31–2872·71). Africa recorded 1 092 682 deaths (621 669–1 602 027) and 40 278 756 DALY (21 676 314–59 084 575), with rates of 88·74 (48·06–134·85) and 2746·12 (1445·93–4106·26). From 1990 to 2023, the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) and average annual percent change (AAPC) in age-standardised burden indicators showed a consistent upward trend across all three continents. High BMI primarily contributed to mortality and DALY through CVD and diabetes and kidney diseases. Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) projections indicate a continuing increase in the high BMI-related disease burden over the next 17 years.
Conclusions:
High BMI poses a significant and growing disease burden in Asia, Europe and Africa, a trend projected to persist. Implementing region-tailored interventions is crucial.