Opportunity: Obesity is a major cause of morbidity in children and adults. In the US, in 2000, it was responsible for approximately 400,000 deaths and accounted for about 7% of health care expenditures. Obesity, particularly abdominal obesity, is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Furthermore, obesity results in many other adverse conditions and disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, various forms of cancer and chronic respiratory diseases. It augments mortality rate and may truncate lifespan by as much as 5–20 years. It is also economically costly to society and reduces quality of life and.
