The Southern Medical Journal (SMJ) is the official, peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Medical Association. It has a multidisciplinary and inter-professional focus that covers a broad range of topics relevant to physicians and other healthcare specialists.
SMJ // Article
Editorial
The Health Effects of Obesity
Abstract
A special series of articles on the topic of obesity is initiated in this issue of the Southern Medical Journal. This public health issue has been popularly termed an ‘‘epidemic’’ in the United States, and that can be understood in the context of motivating public health and healthcare professionals, as well as patients, to evaluate seriously the implications of this disorder. In strict medical terminology, however, ‘‘epidemic’’ is not an appropriate descriptor. My own assessment is that the incidence rate and prevalence of obesity in the US population are increasing, and this remains alarming, no matter what terminology is used.This content is limited to qualifying members.
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References
1. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Weight-control Information Network. Overweight and obesity statistics. http://win.niddk.nih.gov/statistics. Accessed April 4, 2014.
2. National Center for Health Statistics. Prevalence of obesity in the United States, 2009-2010. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db82.htm. Published January 2012. Accessed April 21, 2014.
