N.Y. Public Health Law Section 261
Legislative intent

The legislature hereby finds, determines, and declares that obesity is a serious medical problem affecting up to one-third of all Americans. In addition, a nineteen ninety-seven Kaiser Permanente study concluded that there is a significant potential for a reduction in health care expenditures through obesity prevention. In addition:

1.

Obesity is known to cause or exacerbate a number of serious disorders including hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory dysfunction, gout, and osteoarthritis;

2.

Nearly eighty percent of patients with diabetes mellitus are obese;

3.

Nearly seventy percent of diagnosed cases of cardiovascular disease are related to obesity; and

4.

Obesity ranks second only to smoking as a preventable cause of death, with some three hundred thousand deaths annually attributable to obesity.

Source: Section 261 — Legislative intent, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/PBH/261 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Nov. 1, 2025).

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Verified:
Nov. 1, 2025

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 261. Legislative intent's source at nysenate​.gov

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