A major new study has revealed a sharp rise in diseases linked to high body mass index (BMI) across Asia over the past three decades, with deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) increasing dramatically from 1990 to 2019.
Published in Annals of Medicine, the research draws on data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019 and highlights the growing public health crisis associated with obesity and overweight in the region.
A Climbing Curve
According to the study, the number of deaths due to high BMI across Asia nearly tripled over the 30-year period, while the total DALYs — which combine years lost to illness, disability, or early death — surged from 28.9 million in 1990 to over 91.4 million in 2019.
In terms of rankings, high BMI moved from being the 13th leading risk factor for disease burden in Asia in 1990 to the 7th by 2019.
Diseases Most Affected
The three disease groups most impacted by high BMI were:
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Cardiovascular diseases (accounting for nearly 57% of the BMI-related DALYs),
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Diabetes and kidney disorders (27.6%),
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Cancers (neoplasms) (6.4%).
The burden was found to be significantly higher in men, with deaths and DALYs peaking in the 55–69 age group. Interestingly, digestive and neurological disorders linked to BMI were more prevalent among women.
Country-Wise Disparities
Among 49 Asian countries included in the study:
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United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan had the highest age-standardized DALY rates.
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Japan, South Korea, and North Korea recorded the lowest.
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No consistent link was found between a country’s sociodemographic development level and its high BMI burden, suggesting that even high-income countries are not immune.
Youth in Danger
Researchers expressed concern over a growing trend of childhood and adolescent obesity, especially in East and Southeast Asia — trends that could further inflate the future disease burden unless urgent interventions are introduced.
“Without strong policy actions and community-level awareness, the health systems in many Asian countries could be overwhelmed by obesity-related illnesses,” said lead author Dr. Qi Chen.
What Can Be Done?
The study calls for:
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Early prevention, including school-based interventions,
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Culturally tailored health campaigns,
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Improved healthcare access for weight management,
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And greater research into gender-specific strategies.
The Bottom Line
Asia is now facing a “second epidemic” — not of infections, but of lifestyle-related conditions driven by poor diets, sedentary living, and rising body weight. With high BMI now a leading risk factor for mortality and disease, health experts are urging governments to act before the crisis worsens.
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