The impact of obesity: a narrative review.
10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2022-232
- Author:
Benjamin Chih Chiang LAM
1
,
2
;
Amanda Yuan Ling LIM
3
,
4
;
Soo Ling CHAN
5
;
Mabel Po Shan YUM
6
;
Natalie Si Ya KOH
7
;
Eric Andrew FINKELSTEIN
8
Author Information
1. Family and Community Medicine, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
2. Integrated Care for Obesity and Diabetes, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore.
3. Singapore Association for the Study of Obesity
4. Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.
5. Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Singapore.
6. Psychology Service, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore.
7. Department of Cardiology, National Heart Centre, Singapore.
8. Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Clinical impact;
economic burden;
obesity
- MeSH:
Humans;
Obesity;
Overweight;
Physicians
- From:Singapore medical journal
2023;64(3):163-171
- CountrySingapore
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Obesity is a disease with a major negative impact on human health. However, people with obesity may not perceive their weight to be a significant problem and less than half of patients with obesity are advised by their physicians to lose weight. The purpose of this review is to highlight the importance of managing overweight and obesity by discussing the adverse consequences and impact of obesity. In summary, obesity is strongly related to >50 medical conditions, with many of them having evidence from Mendelian randomisation studies to support causality. The clinical, social and economic burdens of obesity are considerable, with these burdens potentially impacting future generations as well. This review highlights the adverse health and economic consequences of obesity and the importance of an urgent and concerted effort towards the prevention and management of obesity to reduce the burden of obesity.
