Obesity and Health Concerns

Obesity is a chronic (long-term) disease that is increasing in frequency. More than half of American adults are overweight. Nearly one third are obese. Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States (tobacco is the first). People who are obese have much higher risks of many serious health problems than nonobese people. Obesity affects every system of the body. Obesity increases the risk of illness from about 30 serious medical conditions.


The most devastating of these health problems include the following:
* Diabetes
* Hypertension
* Obstructive sleep apnea and pulmonary hypertension
* Heart disease
* Stroke
* Blood clots, deep venous thrombosis, and pulmonary emboli
* Fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
* Gastroesophageal reflux disease
* Urinary incontinence
* Osteoarthritis
* Gallstones
* Colon cancer
* Endometrial cancer
* Depression