Health Risks

"The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States is dramatically higher now than it was a few decades ago. This is true for children, adolescents, and adults. One of the largest changes has been an increase in the number of Americans in the obese category; the prevalence of obesity doubled and in some cases tripled between the 1990s and 2011. Individuals who are overweight or obese, compared to those with a normal or healthy weight, are at increased risk for many serious diseases and health conditions, including all-cause mortality; high blood pressure; high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides; type 2 diabetes; coronary heart disease; stroke; gallbladder disease; osteoarthritis; sleep apnea and breathing problems; some cancers, including endometrial, breast, colon, kidney, gallbladder, and liver cancers; low quality of life; mental illness such as clinical depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders; body pain; and difficulty with physical functioning. Ultimately, obesity can increase the risk of premature death. These increased health risks are not limited to adults. Weight-associated diseases and conditions that were once diagnosed primarily in adults are now observed in children and adolescents with excess body fat. Cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as high blood cholesterol and hypertension, and type 2 diabetes are increasing in children and adolescents. These adverse effects also tend to persist through the lifespan, as children and adolescents who are overweight or obese are at substantially increased risk of being overweight and obese as adults and developing weight-related chronic diseases later in life. Primary prevention of obesity, especially in childhood, is an important strategy for combating and reversing the obesity epidemic."