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Prevalence of Obesity and Associated Complications in China: A Nationwide, Cross-Sectional, Observational, Real-World Study in 15.8 Million Adults

40 Pages Posted: 14 Dec 2022

See all articles by Kang Chen

Kang Chen

Government of the People's Republic of China - Department of Endocrinology

Zewei Shen

Novo Nordisk (China) Pharmaceuticals

Weijun Gu

Government of the People's Republic of China - Department of Endocrinology

Zhaohui Lyu

Government of the People's Republic of China - Department of Endocrinology

Xuan Qi

Novo Nordisk (China) Pharmaceuticals

Yiming Mu

Government of the People's Republic of China - Department of Endocrinology

Yi Ning

Novo Nordisk (China) Pharmaceuticals

More...

Abstract

Background: Studies of overweight/obesity prevalence in China have provided limited data regarding weight-related complications. We evaluated the prevalence of overweight/obesity and associated complications from a cross-sectional, health check-up database among a large, nationwide sample of 15.8 million adults in China.

Methods: Data were from Meinian Health check-up centres (519 in 243 cities). Eligibility criteria included participants with a routine check-up in 2019 (N=21 771 683), age ≥18 years, and complete height, weight, sex, and region data. Prevalence of overweight/obesity were calculated by age, sex, and region based on both the Chinese-specific and WHO body mass index (BMI) classification. Prevalence of obesity-related complications by BMI groups were calculated using logistic regression.

Findings: There were N=15 770 094 eligible participants (median age, 40 years; mean BMI 24·13 kg/m2; 52·79% male). By Chinese classification, 34·78% had overweight (BMI 24–<28 kg/m2) and 14·07% had obesity (BMI ≥28 kg/m2); standardised nationwide prevalences were similar (33·9% and 13·7%). Overweight/obesity were more prevalent in males vs females (standardised: overweight, 40·2% vs 27·4%; obesity, 17·6% vs 9·64%, respectively). Prevalences of assessed complications were higher in overweight/obese participants vs normal BMI (p<0·001 for trends). The most prevalent complications with overweight/obesity were fatty liver disease (overweight: 49·00%; obesity: 81·83%), prediabetes (34·51%; 45·92%), dyslipidaemia (31·30%; 42·42%), and hypertension (20·69%; 36·87%). Complication numbers increased with higher BMI.

Interpretation: Overweight/obesity and complications are highly prevalent among adults. These data may better inform management and prevention public health strategies in China.

Funding Statement: Supported by Novo Nordisk (China) Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd

Declaration of Interests: Zewei Shen and Xuan Qi are employees of Novo Nordisk and are shareholders of Novo Nordisk Pharma. All other authors declare no competing interests [Yi Ning TBC].

Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the Peking University Institutional Review Board (IRB00001052-19077).

Keywords: Obesity, Overweight, China, Prevalence, weight-related complications

Suggested Citation

Chen, Kang and Shen, Zewei and Gu, Weijun and Lyu, Zhaohui and Qi, Xuan and Mu, Yiming and Ning, Yi, Prevalence of Obesity and Associated Complications in China: A Nationwide, Cross-Sectional, Observational, Real-World Study in 15.8 Million Adults. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4301048 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4301048

Kang Chen

Government of the People's Republic of China - Department of Endocrinology ( email )

Zewei Shen

Novo Nordisk (China) Pharmaceuticals ( email )

Weijun Gu

Government of the People's Republic of China - Department of Endocrinology ( email )

Zhaohui Lyu

Government of the People's Republic of China - Department of Endocrinology ( email )

Xuan Qi

Novo Nordisk (China) Pharmaceuticals ( email )

Yiming Mu (Contact Author)

Government of the People's Republic of China - Department of Endocrinology ( email )

Yi Ning

Novo Nordisk (China) Pharmaceuticals ( email )

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