    |
 |
|
 The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States and the corresponding incidence of obesity-related comorbidities underscore the need for preventing and treating the condition of obesity rather than focusing solely on its associated health risks. As we know from the literature, obesity is closely associated with the increasing risk of a number of complications that can occur alone or concomitantly. These include hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, gallbladder disease, respiratory dysfunction, gout and osteoarthritis. And there are still others - certain cancers, for example.41 Chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, are frequent consequences of obesity. Data from the National Center for Health Statistics' Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988-1994) show that 65% of overweight and obese adults (BMI >27) have at least one of these chronic diseases, and 27% have two or more.16 Further, the impact of these obesity-related comorbidities grows as patients gain weight; the risk of occurrence, prevalence and severity of these comorbidities are, in general, positively correlated with BMI.39,54,70 Epidemiological studies have found a curvilinear relationship between body weight and increasing risk of both mortality and morbidity. In fact, comorbid chronic disease is the major risk.13 
Hypercholesterolemia and Obesity Abnormal levels of blood lipids are associated with obesity.45 Approximately 38% of patients with a BMI of 27 or greater are hypercholesterolemic.16 In addition, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and HDL/LDL (low-density lipoprotein) ratios are typically decreased in obesity (whereas triglyceride levels are generally increased), leading to greater risk of atherogenesis.47 The Framingham study found that for every 10% increase in relative weight, plasma cholesterol increased by 12 mg/dL.45 Weight loss with XENICAL plus diet improved lipid levels. 
The long-term effects of orlistat on morbidity and mortality associated with obesity have not been established. Health Benefits of Weight Loss: Dyslipidemia Managing Patients with Obesity-Related Comorbidities | ||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
