Table 1 Characteristics of the studies included in the review.

Kudel et al. [30]

Brazil

Survey

Obesity I (BMI 30 to <35) (n = 4423); Obesity II (BMI 35 to <40) (n = 1269); Obesity III (BMI 40 + ) (n = 707) Brazilian adults, aged 18 years and older.

Obesity I (high school or less (n = 35.4%), at least some college (64.6%)

Obesity II (high school or less (n = 36.3%), at least some college (n = 63.7%) Obesity III (high school or less n = 40.6%, at least some college n = 59.4%)

Obesity class I (BMI, 30–34.99), Obesity class II (BMI, 35–39.99) and Obesity class III (BMI, 40 + )

N/A

Societal perspective

Direct costs and indirect costs

Bahia et al. [33]

Brazil

Prevalence-based

54,339, (M = 20,764, W = 33,575) Aged ≥18 years

N/A

≥30

2008 to 2010 (3 years)

Health System

Direct costs

Sichieri et al. [41]

Brazil

Prevalence-based burden-of-obesity approach

Total = 652 (W = 516 M = 136) ‘people with obesity’ between 20 to 60 years of age

N/A

≥30

2001

N/A

Average length of stay

Lartey et al. [34]

Ghana

Model-based

Older adults who were 50 years and above

N/A

≥ 30.0

50-year time horizon

Health system and patient perspectives

Direct healthcare costs

Li et al. [31]

China

Cross-sectional (community-based)

337 participants (M = 174, W = 163)

Illiterate (14.5%)

Primary (grades 1 to 6) (23.6%)

Middle (grades 7 to 9) or higher (62%)

≥30

1 year

Societal perspective

Direct costs and indirect costs

Boachie et al. [35]

South Africa

Prevalence-based approach

28,000 The age group 15–24 years

The sample size for people with obesity

N/A

≥30

1 year

Health system

Direct health care cost

Ramezankhani et al. [42]

Iran

Questionnaire interviews

2210 people with obesity (73% of Women)

Marital status (n) Single (M = 16, W = 31) Married (M = 580, W = 1348); Widowed (M = 5, W = 230) Educational level (%)

<6 years (M = 34.1, W = 57.1); 6–12 (M = 52.2 W = 38.7) ≥ 12 (M = 13.6, W = 4.2)

M = 32.4; W = 33.6

1999–2018

N/A

Hospitalisations per follow-up time

Shi et al. [36]

China

The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study surveys

13,323 adult individuals (obesity = 1500) Male 34.81%; Female 65.02%

Mean (SD) age = 58.15 (9.01) years Response rate of 80.5%.

No university degree= 97.21%

University degree 2.79%

Smoking status (Never = 71.66%; Quit = 2.02%; Still have = 16.27%; Missing 0.05%)

Standard of living (Relatively poor or poor = 40.37%; Average 52.07%; High or relatively high = 5.62%)

≥30

Between June 2011 and March 2012

Health system

Direct health care costs

de Oliveira et al. [37]

Brazil

Top-down approach based on prevalence

Data from 55,970 households and 188,461 respondents

N/A

≥30

Between 2008 and 2009

Health system

Direct healthcare cost

Rtveladze et al. [38]

Brazil

Model based

In 2010, the model estimates that 16% male and 14% female population were people with obesity and obesity related.

This is predicted to increase in 2050 to 46% and 20%, respectively.

N/A

≥30

Between 2010 and 2050

Health system

Direct healthcare cost

Canella et al. [39]

Brazil

Household Budget

Survey

Population-based study involving 55,970 Brazilian households

Proportion of women in family unit (%) = 51.8

Monthly household income per capita (US$) = 644.70

≥30

May 2008 and May 2009

Health system

Direct healthcare cost

Rtveladze et al. [40]

Mexico

Model based (Microsimulation)

Mexican Health and Nutrition Surveys 1999 and 2000

N/A

≥30

Between 2010 and 2050

Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2006

Direct healthcare cost

Pitayatienanan et al. [32]

Thailand

Prevalence-based

The database of the Centre for Health Equity Monitoring

(CHEM), Faculty of Medicine, Naresuan University. outpatient The Central Office for Health care Information (COHI) database, 2009…inpatient

N/A

≥30

2009

Societal perspective

Direct costs and indirect costs