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(5), 708–710. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.2007.164.5.708
From the research article’s abstract: “Obesity (body mass index >30), has increased significantly over the past 30 years (approximately 50% per decade) (1), afflicting 32.2% of adults in the United States (2) . Obesity increases risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and other diseases, resulting in annual health care costs conservatively estimated for the United States at $70 to $100 billion a year (3) as well as reductions in life expectancy by 5 to 20 years (4) . These facts highlight the urgent need to develop strategies to prevent and treat those afflicted. Although there have been major scientific advances in the treatment of the medical complications of obesity (i.e., diabetes, hypertension hypercholesterolemia), the morbidity from this disorder is hampered by the failure of interventions to sustain weight loss.