Preface. List of Contributors. 1 History of Obesity (George A. Bray). 2 Epidemiology and Social Impact of Obesity (Neville Rigby, Rachel Leach, Tim Lobstein, Rachel Huxley, and Shiriki Kumanyika). 3 Key Methodologies in Obesity Research and Practice (Susan A. Jebb, Alexandra M. Johnstone, Janet Warren, Gail R. Goldberg, and Les Bluck). 4 Adipose Tissue: Development, Anatomy and Functions (Dominique Langin, Gema Fruhbeck, Keith N. Frayn, and Max Lafontan). 5 The Regulation of Energy Balance: An Overview (Gareth Williams). 6 Control of Eating (Wolfgang Langhans, Joanne Harrold, Gareth Williams, and Nori Geary). 7 Energy Balance in Humans (Ellen E. Blaak). 8 Aetiology of Human Obesity (John R. Speakman and David Levitsky). 9 Health Hazards of Obesity: An Overview (Ronald C.W. Ma, Gary T.C. Ko, and Juliana C.N. Chan). 10 Metabolic Complications of Obesity (Ronald Ma and Juliana Chan). 11 Liver Disease in Obesity (Nimantha de Alwis and Chris Day). 12 Cardiovascular Disease and Obesity (Gianluca Iacobellis and Arya M. Sharma). 13 Obesity and Other Diseases (Mimi Chen and Robert Andrews). 14 Social and Psychological Factors in Obesity (Andrew J. Hill). 15 Assessment and Investigation of Obesity (Luc Van Gaal and Ilse Mertens). 16 Managing Obesity: General Approach and Lifestyle Intervention (Susanne Wiesner and Jens Jordan). 17 Pharmacological Approaches for Treating Obesity (John Wilding). 18 Surgical Approaches to the Management of Obesity (Mervyn Deitel). 19 Special Considerations in Managing Obesity (Mimi Chen and Robert Andrews). 20 Eating Disorders in Obesity (Susan M. Byrne and Emma R. Dove). 21 Obesity in Childhood (Julian Shield and Carolyn Summerbell). 22 Prevention of Obesity (Tim Lobstein). 23 A Look to the Future (Gareth Williams and Gema Fruhbeck). Index.