According to the classification of obesity developed by the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity, obesity is defined as a BMI of 25 kg/m2 or more—lower than the WHO definition of obesity, which is a BMI > 30 kg/m2. This was determined because Japanese, and some other ethnic groups in the region, develop co-morbidities linked to obesity at a lower BMI than do other populations, such as Europeans. Hence the need to ‘lower the bar’ for the definition of obesity.
According to the classification of obesity developed by the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity, obesity is defined as a BMI of 25 kg/m2 or more—lower than the WHO definition of obesity, which is a BMI > 30 kg/m2. This was determined because Japanese, and some other ethnic groups in the region, develop co-morbidities linked to obesity at a lower BMI than do other populations, such as Europeans. Hence the need to ‘lower the bar’ for the definition of obesity.
– “Products, Technologies and Markets Worldwide for the Clinical Management of Obesity, 2011-2019.” Report #S835, MedMarket Diligence, LLC
There is a common trend worldwide of increasing prevalence in obesity, and this leads consistently to the challenges, costs and new clinical approaches to obesity that make it such a significant field of focus in medtech, but there are distinct geographic differences in obesity that lead to differences in global medtech markets.
In the case of Japan, the dynamics of how new medtech alternatives will emerge over the next few years are very similar to other geographies, yet there are differences stemming from the nature of clinical practice, culture, regulatory climate and other traits unique to Japan.
Below is a graphic forecast of the Japanese market for obesity, which will evolve in its own, unique way.
Source: Report #S835 from MedMarket Diligence, LLC
Obesity: Global Problem, Local Differences
I serve the interests of medical technology company decision-makers, venture-capitalists, and others with interests in medtech producing worldwide analyses of medical technology markets for my audience of mostly medical technology companies (but also rapidly growing audience of biotech, VC, and other healthcare decision-makers). I have a small staff and go to my industry insiders (or find new ones as needed) to produce detailed, reality-grounded analyses of current and potential markets and opportunities. I am principally interested in those core clinical applications served by medical devices, which are expanding to include biomaterials, drug-device hybrids and other non-device technologies either competing head-on with devices or being integrated with devices in product development. The effort and pain of making every analysis global in scope is rewarded by my audience's loyalty, since in the vast majority of cases they too have global scope in their businesses.Specialties: Business analysis through syndicated reports, and select custom engagements, on medical technology applications and markets in general/abdominal/thoracic surgery, interventional cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, patient monitoring/management, wound management, cell therapy, tissue engineering, gene therapy, nanotechnology, and others.
