• Obesity Risks & Risk Factors
• Highlights
• Introduction
• Causes
• Risk Factors
• Lifestyle Changes and Psychosocial Treatments
• Dietary Management

Complications

General Adverse Effects of Obesity. Obesity, defined as a BMI of 30 or over, accounts for nearly 300,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. It is associated with more chronic health problems than smoking, heavy drinking, or poverty. Furthermore, given the current increase in obesity, it will surpass smoking as the most important preventable cause of death in America.

Some studies indicate the following health risks by body mass:

• The lowest risks for heart disease, diabetes, and some...