ABSTRACT Background Depression and obesity are major global health burdens, yet the co‐occurrence patterns and temporal trends of their comorbidity remain poorly characterised at the global level. Aims To map the global patterns of co‐occurring depression and obesity, quantify temporal trends of depression, obesity and comorbidity, forecast the prevalence of comorbidity up to 2035 and compare social indicators across groups stratified by their combined temporal trends of depression and obesity. Methods Data were sourced from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration and the World Bank Open Data repository. Countries and territories ( n = 199) were classified into four co‐occurrence patterns based on the current prevalence of depression and obesity. Average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) were calculated to quantify temporal trends and define four trend groups. We forecast the prevalence of depression–obesity comorbidity across 199 countries and territories up to 2035 using an autoregressive integrated moving average model. The Kruskal–Wallis H test and Mann–Whitney U test were used to compare seven social indicators relevant to socioeconomic status and healthcare resources across these trend groups. Results For the four co‐occurrence patterns, the consistently‐low‐prevalence group was primarily concentrated in Asia, the consistently‐high‐prevalence group in the Americas, the depression‐dominant group in Africa and the obesity‐dominant group in the Americas and Oceania. Concerning temporal trends, the prevalence of depression–obesity comorbidity increased globally (median AAPC: 4.66%; interquartile range IQR: 3.49%–6.30%). Notably, countries and territories in East Asia, Southeast Asia and sub‐Saharan Africa had higher comorbidity AAPCs despite their low current prevalence. Temporal trends were categorised into four patterns: 44 (22.11%) countries and territories were classified into the double‐fast‐growing group (Southeast Asia, sub‐Saharan Africa), 56 (28.14%) into the depression‐driven‐growing group (West Asia, North Africa, North America, Oceania), 56 (28.14%) into the obesity‐driven‐growing group (East Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean) and the remaining 43 (21.61%) into the double‐slow‐growing group (Europe, Australia and New Zealand). Predictive analysis indicated the median prevalence of depression–obesity comorbidity may increase to 833.32 (IQR: 532.07–1367.42) per 100 000 in 2030 and 869.35 (IQR: 544.11–1403.71) per 100 000 in 2035. Compared with the double‐slow‐growing group, the obesity‐driven and double‐fast‐growing groups showed poorer socioeconomic status and healthcare resources; the depression‐driven‐growing group showed poorer healthcare resources. Conclusions The prevalence of depression–obesity comorbidity increased globally. Particular attention is warranted for countries and territories with currently low comorbidity prevalence but rapidly increasing trends. Our findings also highlight the need for accessible interventions for countries and territories with poorer socioeconomic status and healthcare resources.
Yang et al. (Mon,) studied this question.