The Medical Risks of Obesity

Obesity is a chronic, multisystem disease that markedly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation), and multiple cancers (colorectal, breast, endometrial, esophageal, pancreatic, kidney, liver). It also drives hypertension, dyslipidemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and mental health disorders. The risk rises with greater BMI and longer duration of obesity, and effective management—including lifestyle, pharmacologic, and surgical interventions—is essential to reduce these hazards.

It's time to get serious about treating obesity.