title: The obesity epidemic: pathophysiology and consequences of obesity.
abstract: Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States: more than 20% of adults are clinically obese as defined by a body mass index of 30 kg/m(2) or higher, and an additional 30% are overweight. Environmental, behavioral, and genetic factors have been shown to contribute to the development of obesity. Elevated body mass index, particularly caused by abdominal or upper-body obesity, has been associated with a number of diseases and metabolic abnormalities, many of which have high morbidity and mortality. These include hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, gallbladder disease, and certain malignancies. This underscores the importance of identifying people at risk for obesity and its related disease states.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, New York Obesity Research Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York 10025, USA. fxp1@columbia.edu
authors.forename: F Xavier
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Pi-Sunyer
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D001823:Body Composition; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000209:etiology; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000209:etiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014481:United States; D015430:Weight Gain