ABSTRACT
Obesity is a major and increasing health problem across all areas of the world with a prevalence of more than 50% among the adult population in all Western communities and 64% of those in the United States (1). The increasing prevalence is associated with a parallel increase of obesity-related diseases, in particular, type 2 diabetes and the diseases of the metabolic syndrome. The final solution to this epidemic for the community can only be by prevention, but the increasing prevalence indicates that the preventive strategies have not begun to take effect.
