Obesity as a medical problem

Obesity is now so common within the world's population that it is beginning to replace undernutrition and infectious diseases as the mast significant contributor to ill health. In particular, obesity is associated with diabet es mellitus, coronary heart disease, certain forms of cancer, and sleep-bre athing disorders. Obesity is defined by a body-mass index (weight divided b y square of the height) of 30 kg m(-2) or greater, but this does not take i nto account the morbidity and mortality associated with more modest degrees of overweight, nor the detrimental effect of intra-abdominal fat. The glob al epidemic of obesity results from a combination of genetic susceptibility , increased availability of high-energy foods and decreased requirement for physical activity in modern society. Obesity should no longer be regarded simply as a cosmetic problem affecting certain individuals, but an epidemic that threatens global well being.