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Overview of the Treatment of Obesity

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Primary Care Sleep Medicine

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Practice ((CCP))

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Abstract

Obesity is a chronic disease that has become more common in America during the last 20 years (1). The prevalence of overweight adults in the United States is 65%, with obesity affecting at least 31% of American adult population (1). These increases in overweight and obesity are observed in all ethnic groups and both sexes in this country (1). Increases in the prevalence of obesity are also being seen among the children and adolescents (2,3). Obesity is a known risk factor for several medical comorbidities and is the most common risk factor associated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) (4). Although the exact mechanisms linking excess body weight to the pathophysiology of OSAS are not totally clear, most population-based and cross-sectional studies have found a strong association between OSAS and excess body weight (5–10). Whereas excess weight has been clearly linked to OSAS, there is presently no consensus that any particular body habitus phenotype is the most important in the pathophysiology of OSAS.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Sleep and Behavioral Medicine Institute, Bannockburn, IL and The Sleep Center, Lake Forest Hospital, Lake Forest, IL

    Neil S. Freedman MD, FCCP

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  1. Neil S. Freedman MD, FCCP
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Practice, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Southern Colorado Family Medicine Residency, Pueblo, CO

    James F. Pagel MS, MD

  2. Comprehensive Center for Sleep Medicine Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY

    S. R. Pandi-Perumal MSc

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© 2007 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Freedman, N.S. (2007). Overview of the Treatment of Obesity. In: Pagel, J.F., Pandi-Perumal, S.R. (eds) Primary Care Sleep Medicine. Current Clinical Practice. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-421-6_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-421-6_15

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-992-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-421-6

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