Obesity-Related Comorbidities

Obesity affects numerous organ systems and is associated with a wide range of metabolic, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, oncologic, musculoskeletal, and genitourinary conditions and diseases. These comorbidities significantly increase the socioeconomic burden of obesity and also affect the quality of life, morbidity, and mortality of people with obesity (Finkelstein et al., Health Aff (Millwood) 28:w822–831, 2009). Therefore, addressing these comorbidities has become an indispensable part of the management of patients with obesity. Weight management strategies including lifestyle interventions, pharmacotherapy, endoscopic procedures, or bariatric surgery should also be considered for the clinical management of these disorders (Jensen et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 63:2985–3025, 2014; Swinburn et al., Lancet 378:804–814, 2011).