Impact of Obesity on Radiology

Obesity is impacting radiology departments throughout the country. Increasingly, the ability to acquire and interpret images is compromised by a patient's body habitus. This article provides radiologists with background information about obesity including the definition of obesity, the prevalence of obesity, and the health and economic implications; describes current problems and provides specific solutions related to imaging obese patients using various modalities; and discusses the future of medical imaging and obesity.