Limited Number of Physicians Fully Understand the Definition of Obesity; Top Reasons for Not Actively Diagnosing Include 'Not My Specialty' and 'Patient's Personal Responsibility'

Kyowa Kikaku Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Keita Murai) conducted an internet survey targeting 110 physicians in collaboration with its group company, Intage Healthcare Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Keita Murai), to understand the current state of obesity diagnosis and treatment. The results revealed that only a limited number of physicians have a clear understanding of the definition of obesity, with notable differences in awareness. Additionally, many physicians cited reasons such as 'not my specialty' and 'the patient's personal responsibility' for not actively diagnosing obesity, indicating challenges in how obesity is approached in clinical settings. To ensure obesity is appropriately recognized as a medical condition and patients receive proper diagnosis and treatment, promoting understanding of the disease concept and raising awareness among healthcare providers will be essential.

Obesity is defined as a condition in individuals with a BMI of 25 or higher who also have health complications related to excess weight and require medically supervised weight loss. Obesity is known to be associated with multiple comorbidities and can significantly impact patients' prognosis and quality of life. However, obesity is not yet fully recognized as a medical disease and is often viewed as a lifestyle or self-management issue. As a result, patients may not recognize the need for medical consultation, and healthcare providers may also fail to initiate diagnosis or treatment. Therefore, this survey was conducted to understand current awareness and practices regarding obesity diagnosis and to identify future challenges.

【Survey Overview】

Survey Conducted by

Kyowa Kikaku Co., Ltd.

Survey Method

Online survey (11 questions total)

Survey Region

Nationwide

Survey Organization

Intage Healthcare Co., Ltd.

Survey Panel

Registered physicians from Plamed Co., Ltd.

Target Respondents

Physicians meeting the following criteria:

- Physicians specializing in one of the following fields treating any of the 11 conditions required for obesity diagnosis (※):

(General Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Diabetes and Metabolic Endocrinology, Nephrology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orthopedics)

- Working in clinics (19 beds or fewer)

- Treated at least 50 patients with the relevant conditions in the past month

- Not affiliated with the Japan Endocrine Society, Japan Diabetes Society, Japanese Circulation Society, or Japan Society for the Study of Obesity

Sample Size

110 respondents

Survey Period

April 14–16, 2026

※ 1) Impaired glucose tolerance, 2) Dyslipidemia, 3) Hypertension, 4) Hyperuricemia/Gout, 5) Coronary artery disease: Myocardial infarction/Angina, 6) Stroke: Cerebral thrombosis/Transient ischemic attack (TIA), 7) Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), 8) Menstrual disorders/Infertility, 9) Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)/Obesity hypoventilation syndrome, 10) Musculoskeletal disorders: Osteoarthritis (knee/hip), Spinal degeneration, Hand osteoarthritis, 11) Obesity-related kidney disease

Note: Target physicians are primary care physicians not affiliated with relevant medical societies (see above survey criteria)

【Key Findings and Interpretation】

Regarding the difference between 'obesity' and 'obesity disease,' 32.7% of physicians reported clearly understanding diagnostic criteria and definitions, 45.5% recognized a difference but could not clearly explain the criteria, and 21.8% stated they 'do not know' the difference. These results indicate that while some understanding of the disease concept and diagnostic criteria exists among primary care physicians, it remains insufficient (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Please select the option closest to your understanding of the difference between 'obesity' and 'obesity disease.'

When asked whether they actively attempt to diagnose 'obesity disease' in daily practice, 13.6% responded 'actively,' and 40.9% 'somewhat actively.' In contrast, 40.9% responded 'not very actively,' and 4.5% 'not actively,' totaling 45.4% who are not actively diagnosing.

Among physicians who responded 'not very actively' or 'not actively,' multiple responses were collected on reasons for not actively diagnosing obesity. The most common reason was 'not my specialty' (50.0%), followed by 'cannot prescribe treatment medications myself' and 'believe it is the patient's personal responsibility,' both at 32.0%. These findings suggest that perceptions of obesity as outside one's specialty, difficulty in treatment involvement, and viewing it as a matter of personal responsibility are key barriers to active diagnosis (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Please select all reasons why you are not actively diagnosing 'obesity disease.' (Multiple selections allowed)

Respondent Physician Profile

Specialty: Internal medicine (75.5%), Obstetrics and Gynecology (13.6%), Orthopedics (10.9%)

【Reference: Survey Questions】

- Diseases for which BMI is regularly measured

- Frequency of BMI measurement

- Patient profile considered to meet obesity criteria

- Awareness of comorbidity risks associated with obesity

- Obesity treatments recommended to patients

- Follow-up practices for patients undergoing treatment

- Information sources for referral destinations for obesity patients

- Awareness of obesity treatment medications

For stakeholders in organizations, companies, or media involved in obesity diagnosis and treatment, or those interested in improving the environment surrounding obesity, please contact our inquiry desk. Upon request, we can provide detailed survey data.

For inquiries regarding this survey, please contact:

Kyowa Kikaku Co., Ltd.

Inquiry Desk: survey-obesity-support-k@intage.com (Hirano, Horigami, Mizuno, Taketa)

【About Kyowa Kikaku Co., Ltd.】 https://www.kk-kyowa.co.jp/

Kyowa Kikaku is a healthcare communication agency within the Intage Group, engaged in promotion, education, communication, and convention services. Leveraging Intage Group's diverse databases and solutions, Kyowa Kikaku delivers evidence-based ideas under the mission of 'HEALTHIER DECISIONS – Guiding a healthier future through the power of communication,' transforming information into knowledge to support people's best and most optimal choices.

【About Intage Group】 https://www.intageholdings.co.jp/

(Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market, Securities Code: 4326)

Since its founding in 1960, the Intage Group has collected, processed, and analyzed various data, adding unique insights to support clients' decision-making. As a partner to clients, we respond to their 'questions,' combining consumer understanding and technology to guide the 'next step.'