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Obesity

Obesity is a condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that health may be negatively affected. Technically, it is defined as a body mass index (BMI = weight divided by height squared) of 30 kg/m2 or higher. This distinguishes it from being overweight which is defined by a BMI of between 25-29.9 kg/m2.

Treatment options include dietary advice, anti-obesity drugs, and in severe cases, one of several forms of bariatric surgery.

Many studies show a connection between excessive body weight and various diseases, such as:

Heart disease
Type 2 diabetes
Sleep apnea
Certain types of cancer
Osteoarthritis

As a result, obesity has been found to reduce life expectancy.

With the rate of adult and childhood obesity on the rise, authorities view it as a serious public health problem. Efforts to address this "epidemic" include population-wide measures to improve dietary choices and increase physical exercise.

Specialist

Obesity Treatment Center

Helpful Links

http://www.nature.com/oby/index.html

http://www.shapeup.org/

http://www.tops.org/

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