Overweight (body mass index (BMI) 25 kg m⁻²) or obesity (BMI 30>kg m⁻²) affects more than two-thirds of Americans. Overweight and obesity are commonly associated with multiple coexisting conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, obstructive sleep apnea and cancer. Lifestyle modification can induce a modest weight loss, which is associated with the prevention or improvement of many of these comorbidities. A combination of diet, exercise and behavioral therapy is considered the cornerstone of treatment for all overweight and obese individuals. As the etiology and therapy of obesity is complex, what is needed for these patients is a multidisciplinary clinic where specialists from different disciplines share their knowledge and participate in the treatment of the obese patient.

超重（体重指数（BMI）25 kg m ^-2）或肥胖（BMI 30>kg m ^-2) 影响超过三分之二的美国人。超重和肥胖通常与多种共存疾病有关，例如高血压、糖尿病、血脂异常、心血管疾病、阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停和癌症。生活方式的改变可以引起适度的体重减轻，这与许多这些合并症的预防或改善有关。饮食、运动和行为疗法的结合被认为是所有超重和肥胖个体治疗的基石。由于肥胖的病因和治疗很复杂，这些患者需要一个多学科诊所，来自不同学科的专家分享他们的知识并参与肥胖患者的治疗。