Obesity

Over one-half of all Americans (about 97 million) are overweight or obese. If you are overweight or obese, carrying this extra weight puts you at risk for developing many diseases, especially heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. Losing this weight helps to prevent and control these diseases. Obesity is a condition of excess body fat. It is the most common form of malnutrition in the Western world. It is important to note that no "diet or …

…intake, increase caloric expenditure, or do both. Thus, the chief approaches to weight reduction involve behaviour change related to diet and exercise. Weight loss reduces health risks in the obese. Because obesity is a condition requiring continuous attention, any behaviour changes required to maintain weight loss must be life long. With so many complex mechanisms causing a person to eat more than is needed, it is acceptably difficult to follow a strict recommended weight-loss program.