Obesity in real-world clinical practice: a ten-year retrospective analysis of grades, age, gender, and patient pathways

Background. Obesity is one of the leading public health challenges now, with a steadily increasing prevalence worldwide. Excess body weight and obesity are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular, endocrine, and metabolic diseases, reduced quality of life, and substantial economic burden. In Ukraine, epidemiological data on obesity are limited, and evidence derived from real-world clinical practice remains insufficient. Aim of the study was to describe the epidemiological profile of patients with overweight and obesity in real-world clinical practice during 2016–2025, to assess age- and sex-related differences in body mass index (BMI) categories, and to analyze patient referral pathways to medical specialists. Materials and methods. A retrospective, single-center observational study was conducted using data from 8,760 electronic medical records of patients aged 5 to 83 years who received medical care between 2016 and 2025. Demographic characteristics, BMI, obesity categories, and patterns of referral to specialists were analyzed. Descriptive and comparative statistical methods were applied. Results. Most patients were of working age (18–45 years), accoun­ting for 55.0 % of the study population. Women predominated in the overall cohort (67.9 %), while men more frequently exhibited severe obesity. Extreme forms of obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2) were identified in 15.3 % of patients, with a significant increase in their proportion over the observation period. Referral to an endocrinolo­gist was the most common pathway (56.1 %) and was significantly associated with higher BMI categories. Conclusions. The findings demonstrate a high prevalence of obesity among individuals of working age and an increase in severe obesity in real-world clinical practice. These results highlight the need for early detection, multidisciplinary mana­gement strategies, and further research on obesity in the Ukrainian population.