Obesity (defined as body mass Index [BMI] 95th percentile, or BMI score z ) is a well defined and very complex disease of which overweight is merely one of the signs. Increasing obesity prevalence in youth over the last three decades has led to growing evidence of its implications for human health. Based on longitudinal studies, overweight has been shown to be an important risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic CVD, carbohydrate metabolism disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, cancers, intellectual deterioration, among others, therefore presenting elevated cumulative morbid-mortality. .
