There are currently fewer than 6,000 endocrinologists in the U.S., according to a new analysis, confirming a health care shortage that's particularly distressing in light of this month's report that obesity rates are once again on the rise. A full 38 percent of U.S. adults are now considered to be obese, up from 32 percent of adults a decade ago, and another third are overweight. Obesity has been linked to an increased risk of myriad diseases and conditions, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes, raising additional concern about whether or not there are enough specialized physicians to address an increasingly unhealthy population.