Foreword to Part Three
Obesity is associated with a range of complications, which can be categorised under three main headings – metabolic, mechanical and psychosocial complications.
Part 3 of this Obesity Awareness Collection covers obesity associated with cardiovascular issues, osteoarthritis, COPD, reproductive and lower urinary tract complications in men, and male infertility. All of these conditions are precipitated or made worse by obesity.
Often in the rush to manage a specific well-recognised disease or condition, the management of the underlying condition – obesity – gets forgotten. We should put the treatment of obesity much higher up on our priority list when managing our patients. We need to diagnose obesity now, set out a management plan and follow up with patients. There are a range of interventions that can be used in addition to the usual lifestyle modifications, which have been discussed in Parts 1 and 2 of this Collection. Obesity treatment helps control disease, improves quality of life, is cost-effective and is wanted!
Professor Caterson is the Boden Professor of Human Nutrition and Director of the Boden Collaboration, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW.
