Scientific Assessments of the Global Health Crisis: Four Decades of Progress in Obesity Research

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to analyze changes in scientific publication volume, research trends, international collaboration networks, and thematic evolution in publications addressing obesity in relation to treatment and prognosis over the period from 1985 to 2025 using bibliometric approaches.Materials and Methods: An initial search yielded 1,651 documents published between 1985 and 2025 in the Web of Science Core Collection, of which 1,527 were included after limiting the analysis to English-language publications. The documents were identified using the keywords “obesity,” “treatment,” and “prognosis.” Data were processed using the Bibliometrix R package (Biblioshiny) and Text Analysis for All (TALL), an R Shiny-based application.Results: The analyzed literature showed a 10.25% annual growth rate and an average of 31.17 citations per document, with scientific output peaking in 2022. The United States and China were the most productive countries, while contributions from low- and middle-income countries remained limited. Key journals included Cancers, Frontiers in Oncology, and PLOS ONE. Thematic analysis indicated a shift from a cardiovascular focus in the 1990s toward metabolic disorders in the 2000s, followed by increasing attention to machine learning, inflammation, and sarcopenia in more recent years.Conclusion: The literature addressing obesity in relation to treatment and prognosis has expanded into an interdisciplinary research area, with emerging themes spanning metabolic, inflammatory, and computational approaches. However, substantial geographical disparities in scientific contributions persist. Strengthening inclusive and balanced multicenter collaborations may support broader representation in research on obesity treatment and prognosis.