This systematic literature review assesses the economic burden of obesity and identifies, measures, and describes the different obesity-related diseases included in selected studies. The review searched Medline (PubMed) and Web of Science databases for studies calculating the cost of obesity in populations aged 18 years and older with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥30 kg/m², from January 2011 to September 2016. Twenty-three studies were included, reporting substantial economic burdens of obesity in both developed and developing countries. Methodological approaches, target populations, study time frames, and perspectives varied significantly, preventing informative comparisons. The studies included a wide range of obesity-related diseases and complications, with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) being the most commonly considered comorbidities. The review highlights the need for standardized methods to calculate the cost of obesity and for public health measures to prevent obesity to save societal resources.This systematic literature review assesses the economic burden of obesity and identifies, measures, and describes the different obesity-related diseases included in selected studies. The review searched Medline (PubMed) and Web of Science databases for studies calculating the cost of obesity in populations aged 18 years and older with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥30 kg/m², from January 2011 to September 2016. Twenty-three studies were included, reporting substantial economic burdens of obesity in both developed and developing countries. Methodological approaches, target populations, study time frames, and perspectives varied significantly, preventing informative comparisons. The studies included a wide range of obesity-related diseases and complications, with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) being the most commonly considered comorbidities. The review highlights the need for standardized methods to calculate the cost of obesity and for public health measures to prevent obesity to save societal resources.