Obesity Prevention

Over the years, approaches to obesity prevention and treatment have gone from focusing on genetic and other biological factors to a exploring a diversity of diets and individual behavior modification interventions anchored primarily in the power of the mind, to the recent shift focusing on societal interventions to design "temptation-proof" physical, social, and economic environments. In spite of repeated calls to action, including those of the World Health Organization (WHO), the pandemic continues to progress. WHO recently projected that if the current lifestyle trend in young and adult populations around the world persist, by 2012 in countries like the USA, health care costs may amount to as much as 17.7% of the GDP. Most importantly, in large part due to the problems of obesity, those children may be the first generation ever to have a shorter life expectancy than that of their parents. This work presents the most current research and proposals for addressing the pandemic. Past studies have focused primarly on either genetic or behavioral causes for obesity, however today's research indicates that a strongly integrated program is the best prospect for success in overcoming the obesity problem. Furthermore, focus on the role of society in establishing an affordable, accessible and sustainable program for implementing these lifestyle changes is vital, particularly for those in economically challenged situations, who are ultimately at the highest risk for obesity. Edited by Laurette Dube, MCGill Health Challenges Think Tank; Antoine Bechara, University of Southern California; Alain Dagher, McGill University; Adam Drewnowski, University of Washington; Jordan LeBel, Concordia University; Philip James, International Obesity Taskforce and Rickey Y. Yada, Advanced Foods and Materials Network, Network of Centers of Excellence and University of Guelph