Utility values for obesity and preliminary analysis of the Health Outcomes Data Repository.

Obesity is a global health problem, and comprehensive economic evaluations of treatments for obesity are needed to assess how it can be best addressed. Understanding the relationship between quality of life and obesity is important if the effects of treatment are to be fully captured by economic evaluations. All published estimates of utility related to obesity are reviewed. It was evident that there was widespread variability in the methods and findings. The authors' analysis of data on 13,000 patients within the Health Outcomes Data Repository shows a clearer picture. Obesity has a direct impact on health-related quality of life, therefore, economic evaluations need to incorporate these effects.