TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 27. Morbid Obesity and Its Surgical Treatment A1 - Schirmer, Bruce A1 - Hallowell, Peter A2 - Zinner, Michael J. A2 - Ashley, Stanley W. PY - 2013 T2 - Maingot's Abdominal Operations, 12e AB - Obesity looms as the single largest threat to world health in the next few decades. In countries such as the United States, its consequences pose the very real likelihood that the next generation may not live longer or be more healthier than the previous one.1 This would reverse a trend that has been present for centuries. The rate of obesity is rising worldwide, not just in countries that enjoy privileged economic status. The rise in obesity over the past 25 years in the United States has been dramatic. Currently nearly one-third of adults in the United States are obese, defined as having a body mass index (BMI, calculated as being weight in kg divided by height in meters squared) of 30 kg/m2 or greater.2 More concerning yet, the rate of obesity in young adolescents and teenagers is approaching or exceeding the adult rate in many geographic areas. Because obese adolescents have a very high likelihood of being obese adults, this predicts that the problem will continue to grow in terms of its consequences on the health of the population. SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/28 UR - accesssurgery.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=57012175 ER -