Family medicine
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Since obesity is a risk factor for hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia, health care providers should screen obese individuals for these common diseases. It is possible that obese adults are not receiving appropriate screening for these diseases. This study's objective was to describe the prevalence of undiagnosed obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia, in a nationally representative sample of obese US adults, by patients' recollection of whether they had received such a diagnosis. ⋯ Health care providers are missing valuable opportunities to address obesity and diagnose diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension in obese adults. An emphasis on screening obese individuals for these diseases is needed to improve health promotion.