Class 3 Obesity

The prevalence of obesity has been steadily rising, both in the United States and globally. In the US, the rate of obesity has more than doubled since the late 1970s, with over 30% of adults now classified as obese. Furthermore, the number of individuals considered extremely obese has increased from 0.(Hurt et al., 2010)9% in 1960 to 5. 1% in 2004. This dramatic rise in obesity has been accompanied by a corresponding increase in the incidence of obesity-related comorbidities, such as dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

The public health impact of this obesity epidemic cannot be overstated.(Smith & Smith, 2016)Obesity is strongly linked to an increased risk of mortality and morbidity, including certain types of cancer, disability, hypertension, and stroke (Hurt et al., 2010)(Khaodhiar & Blackburn, 2005)(Smith & Smith, 2016)(Agha & Agha, 2017). The direct medical costs associated with obesity have been estimated to account for as much as 21% of total US healthcare expenditures, and the indirect economic losses from decreased productivity further compound the burden on society.(Imes & Burke, 2014)