Our appetite for any diet twist or gimmick that will take the pounds o quickly and for good seems to beOBESITY EPIDEMICA Growing ProblemIncreases in overweight and obesity in the U.S. (left), as measured by the body mass index (right), presage a growing burden of stroke, heart disease, type II diabetes, some types of cancer and other chronic health problems throughout the 21st century.SOURCES: CDC