Presents an up-to-date survey of the current scientific understanding of obesity and the metabolic syndrome, as well as an overview of the most significant changes to the field over the past 30 years. By first presenting a historical context for overweight, the book drives home the point that obesity is by no means simply a contemporary problem, and its continued existence means that we neither understand it, nor have developed effective therapies. The book is a comprehensive reference for the treatment of obesity in two parts. Part I, The Problem, examines the entire scope of the obesity epidemic, including epidemiology and history, costs of treatment, pathology, clinical types, age-related issues, and general health risks. Part II, The Solutions, describes several treatment options including diet, behavior modification, exercise, pharmacological treatment, and surgery. This volume is a thorough reference for obesity and the metabolic syndrome and offers an in-depth assessment of the problem and its myriad potential treatment options.