Overweight and Obesity: It All Starts Here

The prevalence of obesity has markedly increased worldwide. We confront it daily: in our social interactions, in our work, everywhere we turn. It is an issue that has significant effects on our health as reinforced by the ruling of the American Medical Association in June of 2013 to classify obesity as a disease. Although it is essential to address this condition, it is extremely intimidating and difficult to manage due to its multifactorial causation, potential for comorbidities, associated stigma, and the need for lifestyle change- never easy to recommend or to do. This chapter will provide an overview: the What, Who, Why, and How of obesity etiology and management. Our goal is to provide the reader with a basic understanding and tools to enable him/her to participate in addressing this critical public health issue.

Keywords: Activity, behavior, BMI, body mass index, comorbidities, diet, global health, health status, lifestyle modification, metabolism, motivational interviewing, noncommunicable disease, nutrition transition, nutrition, obesity, overweight, risk.