The National Center for Health Statistics nearly two-thirds of the American public is overweight and nearly half those are obese. Research ties the increase to growing rates of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke and many more ailments.
The hundreds of medical professionals from around the nation in Cleveland this week are determined to change those alarming trends. At the three day conference they'll be learning about the latest research and best practices for obesity management.
Cleveland Clinic CEO Dr. Toby Cosgrove opened the conference by telling attendees that too many people are unaware of the health effects, and the financial effects, of being grossly overweight.
DR. TOBY COSGROVE: "What we are trying to do as an organization, is to call attention to the problem of obesity; to learn new ways to deal with in both in the work place and throughout society, and if we don't do this all our other efforts to control health care costs will go to naught."
Individual sessions include studies of genetic, racial, AND biological factors BEHIND obesity -- new techniques for weight reduction -- and surgical treatments for the morbidly obese.
The medical community has more allies these days in fighting obesity. Employers are increasingly interested in reducing weight related illness among workers and so are insurance companies because it has such a direct impact on bottom line health costs.
