Cited by 1,025Obesity, Physical Activity, DietDiabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and LipoproteinsCancer Risks and Factors

The Medical Risks of Obesity

Pi-Sunyer, Xavier·2009·Postgraduate Medicine

Abstract

Obesity is at epidemic proportions in the United States and in other developed and developing countries. The prevalence of obesity is increasing not only in adults, but especially among children and adolescents. In the United States in 2003 to 2004, 17.1% of children and adolescents were overweight, and 32.2% of adults were obese. Obesity is a significant risk factor for and contributor to increased morbidity and mortality, most importantly from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes, but also from cancer and chronic diseases, including osteoarthritis, liver and kidney disease, sleep apnea, and depression. The prevalence of obesity has increased steadily over the past 5 decades, and obesity may have a significant impact on quality-adjusted life years. Obesity is also strongly associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality as well as cardiovascular and cancer mortality. Despite the substantial effects of obesity, weight loss can result in a significant reduction in risk for the majority of these comorbid conditions. Those comorbidities most closely linked to obesity must be identified to increase awareness of potential adverse outcomes. This will allow health care professionals to identify and implement appropriate interventions to reduce patient risk and mortality. A systematic search strategy was used to identify published literature between 1995 and 2008 that reported data from prospective longitudinal studies of obesity and comorbid medical conditions. This article will review evidence for significant associations of obesity with comorbidities to provide information useful for optimal patient management.

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Crossref · 10.3810/pgm.2009.11.2074

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Authors
Pi-Sunyer, X.
Affiliations
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University, New York, NY
Venue
Postgraduate Medicine
Published
2009-11-01
Volume
121
Issue
6
Pages
21-33
ISSN
  • 0032-5481 (ISSN-L)
  • 1941-9260
OpenAlex
W4246830875
Cited by
1,025
References
87
Citations by year
2026: 33 · 2025: 75 · 2024: 90 · 2023: 96 · 2022: 115 · 2021: 118 · 2020: 129 · 2019: 88 · 2018: 60 · 2017: 58 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 23
FWCI
20.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Postgraduate Medicine (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Amylin Pharmaceuticals
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (P30DK026687)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Risks and Factors
Keywords
obesity, obesity-related comorbidities, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, cancer, osteoarthritis, liver disease, kidney disease, sleep apnea, depression, all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, cancer mortality, weight loss, childhood obesity, obesity prevalence, quality-adjusted life years

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