The Burden of Obesity
Obesity, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 30 kg/m², was declared a major public health problem and global epidemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1997.1 In the U.S., 1 in 5 children and 2 in 5 adults are obese, costing the U.S. healthcare system an estimated $173 billion per year.2
Obesity increases the risk of several cardiometabolic conditions, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.2 Data from 2021–2023 from the CDC show:
- Adult obesity prevalence was 40.3%, with no significant differences between men and women.
- Prevalence was lower in adults with a bachelor’s degree or more compared to adults with less education.
- The prevalence of severe adult obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²) was 9.4% and was higher in women than in men for each age group.
- Comparing 2013–2014 to 2021–2023, the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity did not change significantly, while severe obesity prevalence increased from 7.7% to 9.7%.
Obesity causes or exacerbates over 200 medical disorders, including immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) such as psoriasis (PsO), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).3,4,5 Therefore, it is imperative for physicians to understand the importance of obesity in the amplification of IMIDs.
References
- Haththotuwa RN, et al. Worldwide epidemic of obesity. Obes Obstet. Published online 2020:3-8.
- Emmerich SD, et al. NCHS Data Brief. 2024 Sep:(508).
- Barros G, et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23:7499.
- Gregg EW, Shaw JE. N Engl J Med. 2017;377:80-81.
- Singh S, et al. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017;14:110-121.
