The Burden of Obesity in North Carolina Obesity-Related Chronic Disease

More than half (53%) of all deaths of North Carolinians are preventable. Overweight and obesity are significantly associated with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, arthritis, and poor health status. Inadequate fruits and vegetables, lack of leisure time physical activity, obesity, and overweight make up 80% of N.C.s risk factor or behaviors.

Preventable Causes of Death in N.C. State Center for Health Statistics, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, (2007).

The Burden of Obesity in North Carolina Kidney Disease

Kidney Disease and Kidney Failure Adults who are obese have up to a 7 times greater risk of kidney failure than adults at a healthy weight (even after adjustment for blood pressure and diabetes status). Adults who are obese have up to a 7 times greater risk of kidney failure than adults at a healthy weight (even after adjustment for blood pressure and diabetes status). Results suggest that even a mildly overweight person is roughly 90% more likely to develop end-stage renal failure than a person at a healthy weight, with the risk reaching over 700% greater for the morbidly obese. Results suggest that even a mildly overweight person is roughly 90% more likely to develop end-stage renal failure than a person at a healthy weight, with the risk reaching over 700% greater for the morbidly obese.