Treatment and Prevention of Obesity

Abstract

Obesity ranks as one of the most common and serious nutrition diseases in many affluent societies and its association with many other common diseases may enhance morbidity and mortality. The medical dangers of obesity are well highlighted in medical and scientific publications, and in innumerable articles in the popular press. There is a clear emphasis on the need for preventing obesity beginning early in life and continuing through the various stages in life. In recent years, every imaginable type of therapy has been suggested for obesity. In spite of our increased awareness of the obesity problem and the development of new behavioural techniques, there is yet no reason to believe that one or another type of behaviour modification or nutritional counselling can provide a reasonable expectation of long-term weight reduction; nor there is little evidence that the incidence of obesity is decreasing.