Name: Study of overweight and obesity in the Basque Country: associated factors, health impact and prevention.

Duration: 16 months (01/01/2026-30/04/2027).

Description:

Overweight and obesity, defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an excessive accumulation of fat harmful to health resulting from an imbalance between calorie intake and expenditure, constitute a serious public health problem both globally and in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (CAE), with its prevalence increasing and significant socio-economic inequalities. It is a multifactorial phenomenon, associated with obesogenic environments and psychosocial factors, which increases the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), disability, mortality and healthcare costs.

However, it is largely preventable and manageable through multisectoral policies and measures aimed at promoting healthy habits in the population. In this context, it is necessary to further analyse the key components of overweight and obesity, as well as the specific needs of different subpopulations, and to assess their current and future impact on the healthcare system and its sustainability, in order to guide and support public health decision-making.

Objective: To study the determinants and complications associated with overweight and obesity in the CAE and assess their impact on the healthcare system in the medium and long term, in order to identify evidence-based strategies to reduce their impact and promote healthy lifestyles.

Specific objectives:

  • To identify strategies, community actions and intersectoral policies aimed at preventing overweight and obesity, as well as the key agents necessary for their implementation.
  • Analyse the main risk factors and social determinants associated with overweight and obesity in the EEA in order to identify the most vulnerable subpopulations.
  • Analyse the health complications associated with overweight and obesity in the EAC to determine appropriate preventive measures and timely interventions.
  • To evaluate the use of health resources associated with overweight and obesity in the EAC in order to measure the health and economic impact on the health system.
  • Estimate the evolution of overweight and obesity in the EAC in the medium and long term and its impact on the sustainability of the health system.
  • Provide evidence and recommendations on overweight and obesity to support decision-making in the field of public health.

Design: Retrospective observational study. The work will be carried out from the perspective of Osakidetza-Basque Health Service and the Department of Health, and the following analytical strategy will be deployed to achieve all the study objectives:

  • Literature review: A narrative review of the available scientific evidence will be carried out with the aim of contextualising overweight and obesity from a comprehensive perspective, identifying the main determinants associated with the development of this condition, the most relevant clinical consequences, and the main interventions, strategies, actions and policies aimed at its prevention and treatment.
  • Prevalence analysis: The prevalence of overweight and obesity will be measured and compared with data obtained from the Basque Autonomous Community Health Survey (ESCAV) to analyse the challenges faced by the health system in identifying them, and a predictive model will be developed to support their detection at the population level.
  • Analysis of key components: The key components associated with overweight and obesity in the population of the Basque Autonomous Community will be analysed, including risk factors and social determinants, complications, and use of health resources and associated costs.
  • Analysis of the long-term impact: A simulation model will be developed and validated to estimate, in the medium and long term, both the evolution of the burden of overweight and obesity and its impact on the healthcare system.
  • Recommendations: Recommendations will be made for the prevention and comprehensive treatment of overweight and obesity in the CAE population.

Participants:

People over the age of 15 in the CAE.

Sponsorship: Novo Nordisk

Role of Biosistemak:

Both the principal investigator and the rest of the research team will be Biosistemak staff. They will be responsible for carrying out the fieldwork necessary for the development of the study and the implementation of the methodology. Biosistemak will also be responsible for managing the study, coordinating activities and monitoring the progress of the work.