This book addresses the ever-increasing problem of obesity in children and adolescents, the long-term health and social problems that arise from this, and approaches to prevention and management. Aimed at doctors, and all health-care professionals, it will be of interest to all those concerned with the increasing prevalence of obesity in both the developed and developing world. It covers all aspects of obesity from epidemiology and prevention to recent developments in biochemistry and genetics, and to the varied approaches to management which are influenced by social and clinical need. A foreword by William Dietz and a forward looking ‘future perspectives?conclusion by Philip James embrace an international team of authors, all with first hand experience of the issues posed by obesity in the young. This comprehensive survey of an important and growing medical problem will help inform, influence and educate those charged with tackling this crisis.

Reviews
From the Foreword: ‘The epidemic of obesity is not yet viewed with the urgency it demands ?The questions and challenges that the epidemic provokes provide us with an exciting and unique opportunity to shape a new field.?William H. Dietz

‘The authors have tried to focus not only on what to do to prevent obesity, but also on how and by whom (family, school, health professionals, government and industry). Those working with obese children will find the chapters on home-based care and management through activity especially practical.?Public Health Nutrition

Contributors
Walter Burniat, Tim Cole, Inge Lissau, Elizabeth Poskitt, William H. Dietz, Marie Fran?ise Rolland-Cachera, Mich?e Guillaume, Martin Wabitsch, France Bellisle, Yves Schutz, Claudio Maffeis, Andrew J. Hill, Karl F. M. Zwiauer, Margherita Caroli, Jana Parizkova, Eva Malecka-Tendera, Marie-Laure Frelut, Carl-Erik Flodmark, Giuseppe Chiumello, D?es Moln?, David S. Freedman, Sathanur R. Srinivasan, Gerald S. Berenson, Alessandro Salvatoni, Beatrice Bauer, W. Philip T. James

Preface Walter Burniat, Tim Cole, Inge Lissau and Elizabeth Poskitt; Foreword William H. Dietz; Part I. Causes: 1. Measurement and definition Tim J. Cole and Marie Fran?ise Rolland-Cachera; 2. Epidemiology Mich?e Guillaume and Inge Lissau; 3. Molecular and biological factors Martin Wabitsch; 4. Nutrition Marie Fran?ise Rolland-Cachera and France Bellisle; 5. Physical activity Yves Schutz and Claudio Maffeis; 6. Psychosocial factors Andrew J. Hill and Inge Lissau; Part II. Consequences: 7. Clinical features, adverse effects and outcome Karl F. M. Zwiauer, Margherita Caroli, Eva Malecka-Tendera and Elizabeth Poskitt; 8. The obese adolescent Marie-Laure Frelut and Carl-Erik Flodmark; 9. Prader-Willi and other syndromes Giuseppe Chiumello and Elizabeth Poskitt; 10. Hormonal and metabolic changes Ewa Malecka-Tendera and D?es Moln?; 11. Risk of cardiovascular complications David S. Freedman, Sathanur R. Srinivasan and Gerald S. Berenson; Part III. Prevention and Management: 12. Prevention Inge Lissau, Walter Burniat, Elizabeth Poskitt and Tim Cole; 13. Home based management Elizabeth Poskitt; 14. Dietary management Margherita Caroli and Walter Burniat; 15. Management though activity Jana Parizkova, Claudio Maffeis and Elizabeth Poskitt; 16. Psychotherapy Carl-Erik Flodmark and Inge Lissau; 17. Drug therapy D?es Moln? and Ewa Malecka-Tendera; 18. Surgical treatment Alessandro Salvatoni; 19. Interdisciplinary outpatient management Beatrice Bauer and Claudio Maffeis; 20. Interdiscplinary residential management Marie-Laure Frelut; 21. The future W. Philip T. James; Index.