ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses preventative and treatment options for obesity, including the most common behavioral interventions to shed excess weight: diet and exercise. It also discusses the effects of intermittent fasting on weight loss, and the effect of the time at which we eat. Obesity is not simply a cosmetic problem; it is associated with decreased quality of life, psychological distress, and numerous health problems, including cardiovascular disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and premature death. Anti-obesity drugs generally work in one of two ways: By reducing energy intake or by increasing energy expenditure. Insurance coverage of these procedures is on the rise because, despite the high cost, analyses overwhelmingly indicate that the risks and expenses associated with obesity outweigh those associated with surgery. Despite the growing obesity problem in many countries around the world, there is no established evidence-based national obesity prevention or weight loss program.
