Minimizing Obesity With Hormone Replacement Therapy

Obesity is a common disease; its frequency is gradually and progressively increasing. Some 15 years ago, the incidence of obesity in the U.S. was roughly 15 to 16 percent; now it is between 20 and 25 percent. People are more likely to be obese at the end of their lives. The incidence of obesity in boys is about five percent; it is almost eight percent in girls. By the age of 20, however, 25 percent of people are already obese, and 50 percent more will become obese later in life (Figure 1). Thus, a child born today has a 75 percent chance of becoming obese during his or her life. Obesity is a serious health problem, as it increases the risk of several age-related diseases, such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, diabetes, breast cancer, uterine cancer, and prostate cancer. Most importantly, the mortality rate that accompanies moderate obesity is increased by roughly 25 percent.