Study Finds Severe Obesity Linked to Higher Risk of 16 Common Health Conditions

New Delhi: A recent study has found that individuals with obesity, particularly those classified as severely obese, face a heightened risk of developing 16 common health conditions, with the most significant associations seen for obstructive sleep apnoea, Type 2 diabetes, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The findings, published in NEJM Evidence, highlight the urgent need for effective public health interventions and clinical strategies to address the rising prevalence of obesity.

Severe obesity—also known as Class III obesity or morbid obesity—is defined by a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more, or a BMI of 35 or higher accompanied by obesity-related conditions. It is well established that obesity contributes to poor health outcomes across multiple organ systems. However, previous research often focused on isolated conditions, providing limited insight into obesity’s overall health impact. This latest study from Johns Hopkins University aims to address this gap.

Researchers analyzed health data from 270,657 adults in the U.S. and found a strong and progressive relationship between increasing levels of obesity and the incidence of all 16 studied conditions. The prevalence of Class I (BMI 30–34.9), Class II (BMI 35–39.9), and Class III (BMI ≥40) obesity among participants was 21.2%, 11.3%, and 9.8%, respectively.

The conditions linked to obesity include hypertension, dyslipidemia, Type 2 diabetes, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, gout, MASLD, biliary calculus, obstructive sleep apnoea, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and osteoarthritis. The strongest associations were observed for sleep apnoea, Type 2 diabetes, and MASLD in those with Class III obesity.

While some associations, such as those with asthma and osteoarthritis, were comparatively weaker, the overall findings reinforce the broad and serious health implications of obesity. The researchers emphasize that the growing rates of severe obesity demand urgent action in the form of public health policies and expanded clinical use of anti-obesity treatments to reduce the long-term burden on healthcare systems.