ABSTRACT
CONTENTS Introduction .........................................................................................................173 Lipoproteins, Obesity and Visceral Adiposity...............................................174 Lifestyle Modification of Dyslipidemias.........................................................177 Conclusion ...........................................................................................................178 References ............................................................................................. 179
Obesity refers to excess body fat and develops in response to a chronic energy surplus. The number of obese, defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2,1 is on the rise. Specifically, the overall prevalence has risen in the past decade to almost one-third of the U.S. population.2 Obesity is a serious health problem in the United States and is a major risk factor for a number of diseases. Obesity has been linked to an increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular, diabetes mellitus, cancer (certain types), arthritis, gallbladder and sleep apnea (Figure 9.1).
