Pathophysiology and aetiology and medical consequences of obesity

The World Health Organization has classified obesity as an epidemic. Obesity (defined by body mass index) substantially increases a patient’s lifetime risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus, as well as many other co-morbidities, including cancers and cardiovascular disease. Obesity is caused by multiple factors, which vary from patient to patient, but include obesogenic environment, genetics, medical, mental health and prescribed medications. Obesity appears to predispose patients to developing these multiple co-morbidities by interacting with metabolic and endocrinological processes, as well as exposing the body to increasing mechanical forces.