Evidence mapPaperPMID 40959347Full record

ArticleCureus2025

Trends in Obesity Among Canadian Adults: A Population-Level Database Analysis.

Violet C Mokwenye, Judith N Ochuba, Oluwatomiwa S Fasoro, Amarachi S Nwokolo, Oghale Osula, Marvellous O Sowunmi, Chidimma I Oramu, Sharokeen Youkhana, Kelechukwu P Oranu, Amarachi Asomugha-Okwara and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Violet C MokwenyeDepartment of General Practice, University of Uyo, Uyo, NGA.
Judith N OchubaDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, NGA.
Oluwatomiwa S FasoroDepartment of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ifẹ, NGA.
Amarachi S NwokoloDepartment of General Practice, Madonna University, Elele, NGA.
Oghale OsulaDepartment of General Medicine, University of Benin, Benin City, NGA.
Marvellous O SowunmiFaculty of Medicine, Kharkiv National Medical University, Kharkiv, UKR.
Chidimma I OramuDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Priory Hospital Mildmay Oaks, Hampshire, GBR.
Sharokeen YoukhanaDepartment of General Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, IRQ.
Kelechukwu P OranuDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kenechukwu Specialist Hospital and Maternity Enugu, Enugu, NGA.
Amarachi Asomugha-OkwaraSchool of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, CAN.
Okelue E OkobiDepartment of Family Medicine, Larkin Community Hospital Palm Springs Campus, Miami, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background and objective Obesity continues to pose a critical public health challenge in Canada, contributing to the growing burden of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and mental health conditions. It is associated with reduced quality of life and increased healthcare expenditures. Despite awareness and policy efforts, national prevalence rates have remained elevated over the past decade. This study aims to assess 12-year trends in adult obesity in Canada from 2007 to 2019 and examine differences in prevalence by sex and age groups using national survey data and BMI-based classifications. A secondary objective was to benchmark Canada's adult obesity prevalence against Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries (using the most recent national estimates available through 2023) and to identify how Canada compares with peer nations. Methods A cross-sectional, population-level analysis was conducted using data from Statistics Canada's Canadian Health Measures Survey, cycles 1-6 (2007-2019), and complementary Statistics Canada reports. Adults aged 18 to 79 years were included. Descriptive statistics and 95% CIs were used to analyze prevalence trends over time and between demographic groups. OECD data from 2023 and earlier were used for international benchmarking. Results In 2019, the overall obesity prevalence among Canadian adults was 24.3% (95% CI: 18.0-32.0). Males had a higher prevalence (26.7%) than females (22.0%). Obesity increased with age: 19.8% in ages 18-39, 25.5% in 40-59, and 29.3% in 60-79. From 2007 to 2019, obesity varied within a narrow range, peaking in 2014-2015 (25.9%) before declining slightly. Compared internationally, Canada's rate was similar to the OECD average (25%) but lower than countries like the US (42.8%). Conclusions Obesity remains a prevalent and complex issue in Canada, with significant variation across sex and age groups. Canada's 2019 prevalence (24.3%) is close to the OECD average but contrasts with both higher-prevalence countries (e.g., the US) and lower-prevalence countries (e.g., several East Asian nations), underscoring the need for integrated clinical care and policy action tailored to national and subpopulation needs.

Indexed as

age and sex disparitiesbmicanadachmsepidemiologyobesityoecdpublic health

Identifiers

PMID40959347
PMCPMC12434641

What Socratic holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.