**Author details**

**5.1. Social, health and economic costs of obesity**

6 Adiposity - Epidemiology and Treatment Modalities

overweight and obese individuals.

**6. Is there an imminent need for action?**

spread of global obesity [8].

Obesity comes with a large spectrum of negative health-related, social and economic consequences. The rates of mortality and morbidity tend to be far much higher amongst overweight and obese people than lean individuals. An increased BMI value is closely linked with a greater risk of disease states like CHD, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, NIDDM and certain cancers. Additionally, obesity has since long (20 years) been established as a major independent risk factor for the development of CHD by the American Heart Association [7]. In this context, modest weight reduction has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of these serious health conditions. Furthermore, as an additional impact on anyone's health, obesity represents a major social burden. The obesity "condition" has been denominated as the "last remaining socially acceptable form of prejudice", which not only exists amongst the general public but also resides within the majority of healthcare professionals. Tragically, negative attitudes of some healthcare professionals may seriously impede or postpone the treatment of

Often, one may observe that the serious health and social consequences of obesity are overshadowing the economic cost to society and to the individual. For instance, as long back as in 1995 in the USA, the rough cost attributable to obesity was estimated at \$99 billion. Furthermore, in several developed countries, the obesity epidemics have been estimated to account for as much as 2–7% of the total healthcare costs. Additionally, in addition to the direct costs of obesity come financial obligations related to individuals (i.e. health deterioration and reduced life quality = intangible costs) and the society, in terms of productivity loss, with increased sick leave and premature pensions (serving as indirect costs). The prevention incurred turn out to be more cost-effective than offering treatments, as far as economy is concerned. And in addition, healthcare providers, as well as policymakers, should acknowledge the importance of the obesity epidemic and its prevention, as well as develop cost-effective policies and programmes, in order to prevent this increasing worldwide epidemic to conquer the whole world.

Obesity has become a serious, debilitating medical condition, which definitely needs imminent attention and an urged action plan, encompassing the entire world. The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) was established already in 1996, in order to tackle the emerging global epidemic of obesity; however, the expected results have not been met, as defined some 20 years back. The IOTF serves as a part of the IASO, the International Association for the Study of Obesity, being an organization representing some 45–50 national obesity associations worldwide. Its task force has been composed of top experts on obesity, as well as related disease states from all over the world, including countries like China, Japan, Chile, Australia, Brazil, the USA, Canada and Europe. IASO is an NGO when it comes to formal relations with WHO. However, the IOTF has been collaborating closely with the WHO and thus closely engaged with other international health organizations, for instance, the commonwealth, as well as national governments, in order to increase the awareness and aid in developing of solutions to reduce the

Jan Oxholm Gordeladze

Address all correspondence to: j.o.gordeladze@medisin.uio.no

Institute of Basic Medical Science, Department of Molecular Medicine, Section for Biochemistry, University of Oslo, Norway
