ABSTRACT
Obesity is a common disorder that has become more prevalent in all countries over the past few years (World Health Organization, 1997). About 10 per cent of the French population, 17-20 per cent of the English and Welsh and over 25 per cent of North Americans are obese (Maillard et al., 2000; Prescott-Clarke and Primatesta, 1998; World Health Organization, 1997). In Europe, although obesity is less prevalent in adults than in the US, the prevalence of overweight is increasing among children and teenagers. In France, the most recent data show that 16 per cent of children and teenagers are overweight and the number of obese children has increased five-fold in the last 10 years (Maillard et al., 2000). Obesity is a risk factor for early death and a wide range of metabolic and cardiovascular complications (Lean et al., 1998).
