- Section 1 The development of the discipline of public health
- Section 2 Determinants of health and disease
- Section 3 Public health policies, law, and ethics
- Section 4 Information systems and sources of intelligence
- Section 5 Epidemiological and biostatistical approaches
- Section 6 Social science techniques
- Section 7 Environmental and occupational health sciences
- Section 8 Major health problems
- 8.1 Epidemiology and prevention of cardiovascular disease
- 8.2 Cancer epidemiology and public health
- 8.3 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma
- 8.4 Obesity
- 8.5 Physical activity and health
- 8.6 Diabetes mellitus
- 8.7 Public mental health and suicide
- 8.8 Dental public health
- 8.9 Musculoskeletal disorders
- 8.10 Neurological diseases, epidemiology, and public health
- 8.11 Infectious diseases and prions
- 8.12 Sexually transmitted infections
- 8.13 HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
- 8.14 Tuberculosis
- 8.15 Malaria
- 8.16 Chronic hepatitis and other liver disease
- 8.17 Emerging and re-emerging infections
- 8.18 Bioterrorism
- Section 9 Prevention and control of public health hazards
- Section 10 Public health needs of population groups
- Section 11 Public health functions
(p. 970) Obesity
- Chapter:
- (p. 970) Obesity
- Author(s):
W. Philip T. James
and Tim Marsh
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199661756.003.0204
Obesity is a rapidly escalating public health problem affecting most countries in the world. The recent Global Burden of Disease report identified high body mass index as the fastest growing risk factor for global health. This chapter analyses the problem of obesity from a public health perspective. It begins by considering definitions of overweight and obesity for adults and children. Definitions of abdominal obesity that are relevant in different populations are also described. The second section presents estimates and projections for the prevalence of overweight and obesity, and estimates for the burden of disease and healthcare costs associated with obesity. The final section outlines principles of energy balance in the context of trends in physical activity and energy intakes and considers particular dietary issues of concern. Finally, new approaches to the choice of the package of interventions needed are set out at the community and societal levels.
Access to the complete content on Oxford Medicine Online requires a subscription or purchase. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts for each book and chapter without a subscription.
Please subscribe or login to access full text content.
If you have purchased a print title that contains an access token, please see the token for information about how to register your code.
For questions on access or troubleshooting, please check our FAQs, and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.
- Section 1 The development of the discipline of public health
- Section 2 Determinants of health and disease
- Section 3 Public health policies, law, and ethics
- Section 4 Information systems and sources of intelligence
- Section 5 Epidemiological and biostatistical approaches
- Section 6 Social science techniques
- Section 7 Environmental and occupational health sciences
- Section 8 Major health problems
- 8.1 Epidemiology and prevention of cardiovascular disease
- 8.2 Cancer epidemiology and public health
- 8.3 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma
- 8.4 Obesity
- 8.5 Physical activity and health
- 8.6 Diabetes mellitus
- 8.7 Public mental health and suicide
- 8.8 Dental public health
- 8.9 Musculoskeletal disorders
- 8.10 Neurological diseases, epidemiology, and public health
- 8.11 Infectious diseases and prions
- 8.12 Sexually transmitted infections
- 8.13 HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
- 8.14 Tuberculosis
- 8.15 Malaria
- 8.16 Chronic hepatitis and other liver disease
- 8.17 Emerging and re-emerging infections
- 8.18 Bioterrorism
- Section 9 Prevention and control of public health hazards
- Section 10 Public health needs of population groups
- Section 11 Public health functions