Healthcare Resource Utilisation and Cost of Obesity and Related Complications in the United States: A Systematic Literature Review

AIM: Obesity is an increasingly prevalent, chronic, heterogeneous disease, associated with a variety of obesity-related complications (ORCs). This systematic literature review assessed US healthcare resource utilisation (HCRU) and costs (direct and indirect) for people living with obesity (PwO) or overweight and ORCs. METHODS: ) with ORCs. RESULTS: Of 6862 studies identified, 60 met inclusion criteria; 23 reported costs/HCRU in obesity alone and 37 reported obesity and ORCs. In general, PwO with/without ORCs reported higher direct and indirect healthcare costs and HCRU than those without obesity. The highest per-person-per-year healthcare costs were for PwO and chronic kidney disease, heart failure, or type 2 diabetes. PwO and ORCs had up to 23% higher hospitalisation costs and longer hospital lengths of stay (5.2-25.0 vs. 4.9-20.0 days) than those with the same conditions without obesity or with lower BMI. Weight loss resulted in decreases in annual medical expenditure (up to $263 per person per month in people who lost 10%-20% of their bodyweight). CONCLUSIONS: The rising rates of obesity and overweight with/without ORCs create a burden on individuals and the US healthcare system, highlighting a need for more effective prevention and treatments to improve health and reduce associated healthcare costs.