A clinical view of the obesity problem

The increased rate of obesity in the past decade is caused by a larger rate of energy input than energy expenditure. But this simple explanation belies the complexity of the possible solutions: Education about obesity needs to improve for both the medical community and the public. Successful treatment will require reforms of medical practice as well as more research to facilitate the development of new drugs. The worldwide problem of obesity is sparked by two factors: increased intake of food and increased sedentariness. The energy balance equation is a simple one: To maintain a steady body weight, energy in must equal energy out. It is difficult for people to control both their intake and their expenditure of energy. Intake has gone up because in the developed world food is now very abundant, very available, very palatable, and ver