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Annals of Internal Medicine, 1985; 103 (6 pt 2):1073-1077.
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NIH Consensus Conference Statement,
Health Implications of Obesity.
Sponsored by the National Institute of Arthritis, Diabetes, and Digestive
and Kidney Diseases; the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; and the
Office of Medical Applications of Research of the National Institutes of
Health.
Conclusion: The evidence is now overwhelming that obesity, defined as
excessive storage of energy in the form of fat, has adverse effects on
health and longevity. Obesity is clearly associated with hypertension,
hypercholesterolemia, NIDDM, and excess of certain cancers and other medical
problems. Height and weight tables based on mortality data or the body mass
index are helpful measures to determine the presence of obesity and the need
for treatment. Thirty-four million adult Americans have a body mass index
greater than 27.8 (men) or 27.3 (women). At this level of obesity, which is
very close to a weight increase of 20 percent above desirable, treatment is
strongly advised. When diabetes, hypertension, or a family history for these
diseases is present, treatment will lead to benefits even when lesser
degrees of obesity are present.
Obesity research efforts should be directed toward elucidation of biologic
markers, factors regulating the regional distribution of fat, studies of
energy regulation, and studies utilizing the techniques of anthropology,
psychiatry, and the social sciences.
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