Cost, Morbidity and Mortality of Obesity in Singapore (COSMOS) Study

There is a growing global epidemic of obesity.

People are living with obesity from a younger age and accumulate a lifetime of medical problems associated with it. Obesity is a complex condition that is influenced by genetics, childhood, socioeconomic circumstances and the built environment. People living with obesity (PLWO) are often stigmatised and have poorer quality of life without access to treatment.

Now that there are increasing options for effective surgical and pharmacological treatment of obesity, it is timely that evidence on the cost and burden of obesity is updated so that there can be appropriate cost-effectiveness analysis of new treatments and health policy interventions to improve the access of care to obesity treatment.

Our research aims to provide a robust estimate of the morbidity, mortality and cost associated with obesity to drive cost effectiveness analyses of novel treatments and increase their adoption among patients. We will merge area-level epidemiological data with geographical data of the built environment to study how health outcomes are related to the availability of food and exercise spaces. Through this, we will illustrate the complexity of obesity as a medical and societal problem and highlight opportunities for health and social policy change.