Complications of obesity.

The major diseases associated with obesity are hypertension, atherosclerosis, and diabetes, as well as certain types of cancer. Less well-known complications include hepatic steatosis, gallbladder disease, pulmonary function impairment, endocrine abnormalities, obstetric complications, trauma to the weight-bearing joints, gout, cutaneous disease, proteinuria, increased hemoglobin concentration, and possibly immunologic impairment. A U- or J-shaped curve illustrates the relation between body mass index and the degree of these various complications. This relationship can be used to provide guidelines for assessing treatment of obesity.