Obesity : Recent Findings and Problems

Abstract

Obesity is increasing explosively in both developed and developing countries. It is a chronic metabolic disorder with numerous medical complications and comorbidities. The health hazards and medical costs associated with obesity are enormous, making measures against it an urgent worldwide issue. Although various efforts to control it have been made, it cannot be said that they have been sufficiently successful. Obesity is a complex multifactorial disease, with genetic, biological, psychological, behavioral, familial, social, cultural, and environmental factors that can impact the onset and progress in a wide variety of ways. Thus, obesity treatment needs to be comprehensive, taking into account the chronic and multifactorial aspects of this insidious disease. This paper outlines the biological and psychosocial factors involved in and treatments for obesity, along with recent findings and problems.