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The Medical Risks of Obesity

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Abstract

Obesity is associated with a number of medical conditions that lead to increased morbidity and increased mortality. Both the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization define obesity as a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 and overweight as a BMI 25–30. The most common conditions associated with obesity are insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, gallstones and cholecystitis, sleep apnea and other respiratory dysfunction, and the increased incidence of certain cancers. These are discussed below.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY, USA

    F. Xavier Pi-Sunyer MD (Chief, Director)

  2. New York Obesity Research Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY, USA

    F. Xavier Pi-Sunyer MD (Chief, Director)

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  1. F. Xavier Pi-Sunyer MD
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Pi-Sunyer, F.X. The Medical Risks of Obesity. OBES SURG 12 (Suppl 1), S6–S11 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03342140

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