Medical costs attributable to obesity and obesity-related health disorders in a Japanese population using JMDC claims database.

AIM: This study aimed to estimate the medical costs attributable to obesity among Japanese adults with obesity-related health disorders using the JMDC claims database and assess the impact of body mass index (BMI) categories on the medical costs during a five-year follow-up period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ). Annual medical costs (total, outpatient, inpatient, medication) were summarized. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) with a gamma regression model and log link function were used to estimate cost ratios and adjusted mean total medical costs, adjusting for age category, sex, baseline BMI category, and baseline outpatient visit frequency. Sensitivity analyses were performed to assess robustness across different age groups and regression models. RESULTS: . Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. CONCLUSIONS: . These results highlight the healthcare cost burden associated with obesity and suggest that effective weight management strategies may contribute to reducing healthcare expenditures.