Vioque, J; Ramos, JM; Navarrete-Munoz, EM; Garcia-de-la-Hera, M. 2010. A bibliometric study of scientific literature on obesity research in PubMed (1988-2007). OBESITY REVIEWS 11 (8): 603-611

[Eugene Garfield]

Vioque, J; Ramos, JM; Navarrete-Munoz, EM; Garcia-de-la-Hera, M. 2010. A 
bibliometric study of scientific literature on obesity research in PubMed (1988-
2007). OBESITY REVIEWS 11 (8): 603-611..

Author Full Name(s): Vioque, J.; Ramos, J. M.; Navarrete-Munoz, E. M.; Garcia-
de-la-Hera, M.

Language: English
Document Type: Review
Author Keywords: Bibliometry; literature review; obesity; research
KeyWords Plus: DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES; PUBLIC-HEALTH; MEDICINE; 
AGENCIES; SERVICES; BURDEN; EUROPE; FIELDS; TRENDS; IMPACT

Abstract: This article describes a bibliometric review of the publications on 
obesity research in PubMed over the last 20 years. We used Medline via the 
PubMed online service of the US National Library of Medicine from 1988 to 
2007. The search strategy was: ([obesity] in MesH).
A total of 58 325 references were retrieved, 25.5% in 1988-1997, and 74.5% in 
1998-2007. The growth in the number of publications showed an exponential 
increase. The references were published in 3613 different journals, with 20 
journals contributing 25% of obesity literature. The two journals contributing 
most were the International Journal of Obesity (5.1%), Obesity-Obesity 
Research (2.9%). North America and Europe were the most productive world 
areas with 44.1% and 37.9% of the literature, respectively. The US was the 
predominant country in number of publications, followed by the United Kingdom, 
Japan and Italy. The ranking of production changed when the number of 
publications was normalized by population, gross domestic product and obesity 
prevalence by countries. The great increase of publications on obesity during 
the period 19882007 was particularly evident in the second decade of the 
period which is concordant with the worldwide obesity epidemic. USA and 
Europe were leaders in the production of scientific articles on obesity.

Addresses: [Vioque, J.; Navarrete-Munoz, E. M.; Garcia-de-la-Hera, M.] Univ 
Miguel Hernandez, Dept Salud Publ, Alicante, Spain; [Vioque, J.; Navarrete-
Munoz, E. M.; Garcia-de-la-Hera, M.] CIBER Epidemiol & Salud Publ CIBERESP, 
Madrid, Spain; [Ramos, J. M.] Hosp Gen Univ Elche, Unidad Enfermedades 
Infecciosas, Med Interna Serv, Alicanto, Spain

Reprint Address: Vioque, J, Univ Miguel Hernandez, Dpto Salud Publ, Campus 
San Juan,Ctra Valencia S-N, Alacant 03550, Spain.

E-mail Address: vioque at umh.es
ISSN: 1467-7881
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2009.00647.x
fulltext: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-
789X.2009.00647.x/abstract