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Understanding Obesity

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Understanding Obesity

Obesity is a term used to describe patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, and it’s considered a serious, chronic disease that can lead to a range of adverse health conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes and more. While its causes are often difficult to pinpoint, they can include poor dietary habits, genes, metabolism and certain endocrine disorders and diseases.

Statistics show that the past several decades have seen a significant increase in the likelihood of obesity in men, women and children. In New York alone, the adult obesity rate rose from 16% in 1997 to 25.5% in 2016. And according to the National Institute of Health, more than one-third of all American adults are currently obese. Approximately one-third of all children in the United States ages 2 to 19 are also considered overweight or obese.

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