title: Overweight and Obesity: Prevalence, Consequences, and Causes of a Growing Public Health Problem.
abstract: This review considers a variety of perspectives on overweight and obesity (OW/obesity), including measurement and classification; prevalence and changes in prevalence in recent years; genetic, biological, medical, individual, and social correlates of OW/obesity; and treatment approaches. Despite increased attention, OW/obesity is escalating in prevalence worldwide, and the causes are exceedingly complex. A range of innovative studies, including basic research on gut microflora, dietary composition, pharmacologic interventions, and surgical procedures, is generating findings with potential for future prevention and treatment of OW/obesity. Social system changes such as school programs and the awareness of the roles of personal, family, health provider, and cultural experiences related to OW/obesity have also gained traction for vital prevention and treatment efforts over the past decade.
authors.affiliation: University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA. eewilliams@umc.edu.
authors.forename: Ellen P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Program, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, 4300 West 7th Street, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA. Marie.Mesidor@va.gov.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mesidor
authors.affiliation: University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA. kwinters@umc.edu.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Winters
authors.affiliation: South Central Veterans Affairs Mental Illness Research, Education & Clinical Center, Little Rock Geriatric Research, Education & Clinical Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 2200 Fort Roots Drive, North Little Rock, AR, 72114, USA. Patricia.Dubbert@va.gov.
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Dubbert
authors.affiliation: University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA. swyatt@umc.edu.
authors.forename: Sharon B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Wyatt
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Obesity; Overweight; Treatment; Trends