Extreme obesity as a new medical crisis in the United States - (10/11/06)
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Extreme obesity as defined by a body mass index (BMI) of ≥40 kg/mg2 has markedly increased in the past decade and now affects almost 1 in 20 Americans, its prevalence being greater among women than among men, and greater among blacks than among non-Hispanic whites or Hispanics. Furthermore, the effects of extreme obesity on mortality are greater among young than among older adults, among men than among women, and among whites than among blacks. According to the authors, the current permissive environment promoting increased dietary energy intake and decreased energy expenditure coupled with genetic predisposition is an important pathogenic factor of this new medical crisis afflicting the United States.
