Obesity is a leading preventable cause of death worldwide, with increasing prevalence in adults and children, and authorities view it as one of the most serious public health problems of the 21st century.
The health factors that are associated with obesity are alarming. Despite increasing national and local attention, the epidemic of obesity in our country continues to increase:
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems. A person is considered obese if he or she weighs 20 percent or more over his or her ideal body weight or has a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more.
Morbid obesity is an excess of body fat, or weight of 100 pounds over ideal body weight, or have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more. Morbid obesity increases the risk of developing cardiac and endocrine disturbances, including coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, as well as some kinds of cancer. These are potentially dangerous conditions that can lead to disability and/or an early death.