ABSTRACT
Obesity, dened by a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 in adults, is the most common metabolic disease in the world. The prevalence of obesity in the United States increased during the last two decades of the twentieth century. Even though there appears to be a recent slowing of the rate of increase,1
35.7% of all U.S. adults during the period 2009-2010 were obese.2 In 2008, the medical costs associated with obesity in the United States were estimated at $147 billion.3 Physicians are therefore routinely challenged by the comorbidities associated with obesity. Although the associations between obesity and increased risk for cancer and cardiovascular,
55.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................613 55.2 Obesity and Pulmonary Function Tests ............................................................................................................................614
