OBESITY

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic syndrome characterised by excess body fat and is a common health problem throughout the world. Being obese may decrease the number of years a person lives because it predisposes to potentially life threatening diseases. For example, obesity is linked to heart disease, Type 2 diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), hypertension (high blood pressure), osteoarthritis and various cancers. Obese persons may also experience more lower back pain or knee problems than nonobese people.