The Obesity Problem

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Abstract
I commend you and Dr. Angell (Jan. 1 issue)1 for recognizing that “the best public health approach is to concentrate on measures to prevent obesity” and stressing the importance of avoiding weight gain. However, even a modest degree of excess weight is associated with an increased risk of hypertension 2,3 and diabetes.4 The combination of the severity of the consequences of excess weight and the fact that approximately 24.7 percent of all U.S. women are overweight (defined as a body-mass index — calculated as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters — of 25 to 29.9) and an additional 24.9 percent are obese (defined as a body-mass index >30)5 makes excess weight a major public health problem. It is one of the most common preventable causes of morbidity and mortality, and clinicians would be remiss if they did not discuss weight loss and weight maintenance with their overweight patients.