G20 Country Burden of High BMI-Related Liver Cancer: Trends from 1990 to 2021 and Projections to 2050

BACKGROUND: Liver cancer associated with a high body mass index (BMI) poses a significant global health challenge, particularly within G20 nations characterized by elevated rates of Hepatitis B and C infections. This study aims to quantify the burden of liver cancer attributable to high BMI across G20 countries by employing the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 data and advanced statistical modeling techniques, assessing key metrics such as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), deaths, years of life lost (YLLs) and years lived with disability (YLDs) from 1990 to 2021, segmented by gender and age. METHODS: The burden of liver cancer attributable to high BMI was assessed using GBD 2021 data and advanced statistical modeling techniques. Estimates for DALYs, deaths, YLLs, and YLDs were generated and analyzed by gender and age. RESULTS: The results indicate a concerning increase in liver cancer burden, particularly in nations with high to high-middle socio-demographic indices, where Saudi Arabia exhibited the highest liver cancer rates linked to Hepatitis B and C. Alarmingly, individuals aged 60–69 experienced significantly elevated age-standardized rates of DALYs, deaths, YLDs, and YLLs, revealing a differential impact based on both age and underlying viral infections. Projections for 2022 to 2050 further signal an unsettling rise in liver cancer cases and mortality rates associated with high BMI, highlighting the urgent need for targeted public health initiatives. CONCLUSIONS: It is imperative that future health policies prioritize international collaboration, increase healthcare investments, and address obesity-related lifestyle factors in order to mitigate the impending health crisis posed by high BMI-associated liver cancer across G20 countries.