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 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 The following chart shows that as BMI increased so did the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.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 
Hypertension and Obesity "Obesity is the major modifiable correlate of blood pressure"27 and a major factor in the development of hypertension.27,33,69 There is a 5 to 6 times greater risk of developing hypertension among those who are obese.70 The Framingham study found that a 15% gain in weight was associated with an 18% increase in systolic blood pressure. Compared with those of normal weight, people who were 20% overweight had an eightfold greater incidence of hypertension.45 The following chart shows the effect of weight loss with XENICAL in lower blood pressure in individual with elevated blood pressure at baseline. 
Weight loss with XENICAL plus diet improved both systolic and diastolic blood pressures versus placebo plus diet. The long-term effects of XENICAL (orlistat) on morbidity and mortality associated with obesity have not been established. Health Benefits of Weight Loss: Hypertension Managing Patients with Obesity-Related Comorbidities | |||||||
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