The number of healthcare appointments related to obesity among users of health plans in Brazil has more than doubled over nearly a decade, increasing by 108% since 2015.
In Brazil, healthcare appointments linked to obesity among health plan users surged by 108% over nearly a decade, rising from 40.7 cases per 100,000 beneficiaries in 2015 to 84.5 in 2024. This increase accelerated post-2020, coinciding with the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. The findings stem from a study conducted by the IESS (Institute of Supplementary Health Studies) based on data from the ANS (National Agency of Supplementary Health), which includes both outpatient and hospital visits classified with obesity-related diagnoses.
The overall prevalence of obesity in Brazil has skyrocketed over the past 19 years, with a reported 118% increase in the adult population affected. These alarming statistics were recently released by Vigitel, a segment of the Ministry of Health that monitors chronic disease frequency in the country, highlighting significant public health concerns. According to the IESS study, the rise in obesity-related healthcare visits was particularly pronounced among women, where the rate jumped from 55.2 to 128.2 appointments per 100,000 beneficiaries.
This trend raises important implications for Brazil's healthcare system, as managing obesity-related health issues places additional burdens on health services, particularly at a time when the system is still recovering from the pandemic's impact. The shifting demographics of healthcare needs demand urgent attention from policymakers to address preventive health measures and to adapt health services to better support the growing population affected by obesity.
