Rising Obesity-Associated Mortality in Men: Exploration of Gender Disparity from the Global Burden of Disease Study, 1990-2019

The global rise in overweight, obesity, and related diseases is undeniable; however, the pathogenesis of obesity and obesity-associated diseases is heterogeneous, with varied complications and a discordant response to treatment. Intriguingly, men have a shorter lifespan than women, despite being half as likely to be obese. This paradox suggests a potential gender disparity in the impact of obesity on mortality, with men potentially being more vulnerable to obesity-associated health risks. This retrospective study utilized Global Burden of Diseases data from 204 countries/territories to bridge the knowledge gap in understanding gender disparities in obesity-related mortality. Outcomes were obesity-associated mortality, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). In 2019, the global overweight/obesity-related disease burden reached 160.2 million DALYs, with 5.02 million associated deaths. From 1990 to 2019, the age-standardized death rates increased in males (from 58.19 to 66.55 per 100,000 person-years, APC = 0.36%, 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.42%, P