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

OBJECTIVE: 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. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.