New obesity database offers groundbreaking insights for health and drug development

A new obesity-focused medical database is revolutionising how patient data is collected and analysed, providing critical insights for healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical companies. Led by Kobe University, this initiative compiles anonymised medical records from obese patients and those with obesity-related conditions, offering a uniquely comprehensive and reliable dataset.

Addressing the health burden of obesity

Obesity is a key driver of multiple serious health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, gout, coronary heart disease, and stroke. “Obesity is at the root of many diseases,” explains Ogawa Wataru, an endocrinologist at Kobe University. Effective monitoring and treatment are not only essential for individual health but also crucial for optimising public healthcare resources.

Despite its significance, the relationship between obesity and related diseases remains complex. “Seeing the challenges faced by obese patients in clinical practice motivated me to develop a more accurate data source,” says Ogawa. Existing databases are often incomplete or primarily designed for insurance claims, limiting their usefulness in research and treatment development.

The J-ORBIT database: a new approach to obesity research

To bridge this gap, Ogawa and his team created the J-ORBIT database. Built from Japanese digital medical records, the system automatically compiles data on drug prescriptions, lab tests, patient examinations, and disease incidence. Every time a patient visits one of the seven participating healthcare facilities in Japan, their anonymised data is updated in real time.

“This database enables efficient, large-scale analysis of obesity-related clinical information—something previously unattainable,” says Ogawa. Managed by the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity (JASSO), J-ORBIT is already transforming obesity research.

Key findings from the J-ORBIT study

The first study, published in the Journal of Diabetes Investigation, analysed data from 1,169 of the approximately 3,000 patients currently enrolled. The findings revealed:

• Most obese patients also have at least three other diabetes-related conditions.

• The database confirms and challenges existing assumptions about obesity-related diseases.

• Some treatment options, such as behavioural therapy, are underutilised.

• Obesity is linked to conditions not traditionally associated with it, including menstrual abnormalities and female infertility.

A collaborative effort with diabetes research

J-ORBIT shares its infrastructure with J-DREAMS, a diabetes-focused database managed by the Japan Diabetes Society. “Having worked on J-DREAMS, I wanted to develop a similar resource for obesity management,” Ogawa explains. Institutions contributing to both systems allow for seamless data integration, providing researchers with valuable insights into obesity and diabetes. However, the overlap means that diabetes-related data may be overrepresented in J-ORBIT.

Transforming obesity treatment and drug development

One of the most significant benefits of J-ORBIT is its ability to identify patients who would benefit most from weight management strategies. The pharmaceutical industry has taken notice, with several companies funding the initiative and beginning research using the data. “As obesity treatment evolves, a database like J-ORBIT will play a crucial role,” Ogawa states.

Research funding and institutional support

This project is supported by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (grant 16816396), along with pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Novo Nordisk Pharma Ltd., and Boehringer Ingelheim Co. Ltd. Research partners include the National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Gifu University, Kyoto University, Tokushima University, Okayama University, Shiga University of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, and Chiba University.

About Kobe University

Founded in 1902 as Kobe Higher Commercial School, Kobe University is now one of Japan’s top research institutions. With nearly 16,000 students and 1,700 faculty members, the university integrates social and natural sciences to drive innovation and address global health challenges.