The dangerous liaison: Weight gain and its associated comorbidities

Overweight and obesity have tangible physical consequences that affect mortality and economics, as well as increase the risk of numerous diseases. Obesity significantly increases the risk of diabetes, coronary heart disease and colon cancer (among others), decreases life span, and exacts a large financial toll on both the patient and the healthcare industry. Weight loss among overweight and obese persons regains the health benefits lost with excess weight: improved insulin sensitivity, decreased risk for diabetes, and improved mortality rates from diseases associated with obesity. A healthy lifestyle also affords those benefits, even without weight loss. Visceral adiposity, which can be clinically ascertained with measurement of waist circumference, is an important indicator of high risk associated with excess weight and should be among the routine vital signs obtained at every office visit.