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Article: The dangerous burden of obesity.
- Article from:
- FDA Consumer
- Article date:
- November 1, 1986
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1986 U.S. Government Printing Office. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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THE DANGEROUS BURDEN OF OBESITY
Concern over the health effects of obesity goes back virtually to the beginning of medical science. In the fourth century B.C., Hippocrates observed, "Sudden death is more common in those who are naturally fat than in the lean.'
Today, not only health, but fashion, too, dictates that lean is in and fat is out. Apart from the stylishness of a slender shape, however, weight control plays a vital role in maintaining good health. In fact, a growing body of medical evidence shows that obesity and, possibly, lesser degrees of overweight, pose grave threats to health.
"The evidence is now overwhelming that obesity, ...