Obesity, a chronic disease that is increasing in prevalence around the world, is a major contributor to poor health in most countries. In 2015, approximately 108 million children and 604 million adults globally were obese; this represents an increase in prevalence of obesity in almost all countries since 1980 and a doubling in prevalence in 70 countries.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued the recommendation that all adults be screened for obesity, and that patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater be offered intensive, mul-ticomponent behavioral interventions.1 The American Academy of Family Physicians has endorsed the USPSTF recommendation, which is based on evidence that intensive counseling can promote modest sustained weight loss and improved clinical outcomes.

Someone who is 40% overweight is twice as likely to die prematurely as an average-weight person.

It is estimated that more than one-third (or 78.6 million) of U.S. adults are obese. Among non-pregnant women aged 12–44 years in the USA, the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled between 1976 and 2004, with a threefold increase in severe obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 40).2 Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, some of the leading causes of preventable death.3 edit - In 2008, the estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. was $147 billion.