Abstract:

Obesity is an urgent and growing global health problem of critical concern. The causes of this epidemic are complex and multifactorial, but fundamentally lead to an excess calorie intake and inadequate energy expenditure. Modern lifestyles, incorporating altered eating patterns, access to cheap, highly palatable, energy-dense yet nutritionally-poor foods, sedentary life-style and labour-saving devices which reduce physical activity have hugely accelerated the problem during the latter part of the 20^thcentury. Obesity is a complex condition, with serious social and psychological dimensions, affecting virtually all ages and socioeconomic groups . The health consequences range from increased risk of premature death, to serious chronic conditions that reduce the overall quality of life. Of special concern is the increasing incidence of childhood obesity. The literature has been extensively reviewed to give an overview of the causes, the health problems associated with this disorder, the mode of assessment of the degree of obesity, its consequences, various methods of managing obesity with particular emphasis on dieting, exercise and the possible use of drugs (anorexiants) as well as surgery. 

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