Obesity in adults and children: a call for action

Obesity/overweight in adults and children is a worldwide health problem ass ociated with substantial economic burden as measured by paid sick leave, li fe and disability insurance rates, and obesity-related physician visits and hospital stays. Overweight/obese people experience hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes and suffer more joint and mobility problem s than people within the normal weight for height range. While there is nee d to understand individual behaviors that can be modified to promote weight loss and weight maintenance, there is as great a need to consider contextu al factors at the societal level that can impede or even sabotage weight co ntrol efforts. In every country with improved living standards people will continue to eat too much and engage in too little physical activity. The ca ll for action is for all modernized societies to alter environments and att itudes to support, rather than hinder, healthy dietary intake and being phy sically active.