In the last quarter of a century the prevalence of obesity in the United States has doubled. Officially one third of the US population is now obese being defined as having a Body Mass Index of greater than 30.
7% are morbidly obese with a BMI above 40. There seems little likelihood of the figures growing smaller in the immediate future as 17% of adolescents are overweight – a significant increase over the last 5 years (Ogden et al JAMA 2006;295:1549-55).
