Dr. Robert Baron, UCSF Professor of Medicine, is an expert on obesity and related topics in nutrition and chronic disease. Here he explores ten things you thought you knew.

  1. The health impact of obesity is approaching that of tobacco.
  2. The childhood obesity epidemic is slowing down.
  3. Being overweight decreases your life expectancy.
  4. Being obese is worse for your health than being sedentary.
  5. Exercise is essential for successful weight loss.
  6. Macronutrient composition (proportion of protein, fat, and carbohydrate) of the diet predicts the amount of weight loss.
  7. Rapid weight loss is ineffective.
  8. Following weight loss, patients can return to a normal “sensible” calorie intake.
  9. Obesity can be treated successfully with medications, similar to other chronic diseases.
  10. Obesity surgery is safe and effective and should be used for all patients with BMI over 40, (or BMI over 35 with other comorbidities).