Obesity: a modern epidemic.

It has recently become obvious that the prevalence of obesity has been rapidly increasing in the United States, as well as other countries, over the past two decades. This change has involved both sexes, all age ranges and various ethnic groups. The rising prevalence in children and adolescents is of particular concern because of the implications for negative effects on their morbidity and mortality in young adulthood. Obesity is definitely associated with a relative increase in diabetes, cardiovascular disease, various cancers, respiratory disorders in sleep, gallbladder disease and osteoarthritis. It also has negative effects on a variety of other conditions such as pregnancy complications, menstrual disorders, psychological disorders, and urinary stress incontinence. It is an integral component of the metabolic syndrome, which is emerging as a key constellation of risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Dealing with this epidemic will require the mobilization of multiple constituencies and allocation of adequate resources. These approaches should be instituted with urgency.