TY - JOUR
AU - A. Zafar
AU - C. Scarlata
A1 - 
AB - AIMS: To estimate and compare the economic burden of obesity across three Integrated Care Boards in England, with a specific focus on the contribution of Type 2 diabetes and related complications. METHODS: An adapted burden of obesity model integrating estimated national health costs data with local population metrics was applied to the integrated care boards to estimate health care, social care, productivity and economic and quality of life associated costs. Data were stratified by sector, age, sex, BMI and prevalence of obesity-related complications. RESULTS: Across the regions, 599,248 adults were living with obesity. Total economic burden reflected obesity prevalence, with the highest costs in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, followed by Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes and then Northamptonshire. Despite this, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes had the highest per-patient costs across all cost categories. Social care and productivity losses each contributed approximately 30% of total costs, with informal care comprising 96% of social care expenditure. Per-patient healthcare costs increased with BMI. Type 2 diabetes and hypertension were among the most prevalent and costly complications, while stroke and coronary heart disease had the highest per-patient costs. Coexisting coronary heart disease with Type 2 diabetes significantly increased treatment costs. Obesity was more prevalent among working-age adults, with males incurring higher per-patient complication costs across all conditions and integrated care boards. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the significant and variable local economic burden of obesity. Disparities in per-patient costs, sex and complication profiles highlight the need for stratified, data-driven commissioning. Targeted prevention in high-burden areas can help ICBs reduce system pressures and guide effective local strategies.
AD - NIHR Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Commercial Research Delivery Centre, Leicester, UK.; Diabetes and Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Health, Education and Society, University of Northampton, Northampton, UK.; Primary Care Research Hub, Danes Camp Medical Centre, Research and Training Academy, Northampton, UK.
AN - 41618721
BT - Diabet Med
C5 - Financing & Sustainability
CP - 4
DA - Apr
DO - 10.1111/dme.70241
DP - NLM
ET - 20260131
IS - 4
JF - Diabet Med
LA - eng
N2 - AIMS: To estimate and compare the economic burden of obesity across three Integrated Care Boards in England, with a specific focus on the contribution of Type 2 diabetes and related complications. METHODS: An adapted burden of obesity model integrating estimated national health costs data with local population metrics was applied to the integrated care boards to estimate health care, social care, productivity and economic and quality of life associated costs. Data were stratified by sector, age, sex, BMI and prevalence of obesity-related complications. RESULTS: Across the regions, 599,248 adults were living with obesity. Total economic burden reflected obesity prevalence, with the highest costs in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, followed by Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes and then Northamptonshire. Despite this, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes had the highest per-patient costs across all cost categories. Social care and productivity losses each contributed approximately 30% of total costs, with informal care comprising 96% of social care expenditure. Per-patient healthcare costs increased with BMI. Type 2 diabetes and hypertension were among the most prevalent and costly complications, while stroke and coronary heart disease had the highest per-patient costs. Coexisting coronary heart disease with Type 2 diabetes significantly increased treatment costs. Obesity was more prevalent among working-age adults, with males incurring higher per-patient complication costs across all conditions and integrated care boards. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the significant and variable local economic burden of obesity. Disparities in per-patient costs, sex and complication profiles highlight the need for stratified, data-driven commissioning. Targeted prevention in high-burden areas can help ICBs reduce system pressures and guide effective local strategies.
PY - 2026
SN - 0742-3071
SP - e70241
ST - Burden of obesity in local health systems: A comparative analysis across three integrated care boards in England with a focus on type 2 diabetes
T1 - Burden of obesity in local health systems: A comparative analysis across three integrated care boards in England with a focus on type 2 diabetes
T2 - Diabet Med
TI - Burden of obesity in local health systems: A comparative analysis across three integrated care boards in England with a focus on type 2 diabetes
U1 - Financing & Sustainability
U3 - 10.1111/dme.70241
VL - 43
VO - 0742-3071
Y1 - 2026
ER -