Overview
The obesity epidemic has spawned an unlimited array of quick-fix, rapid weight loss plans and unproven pharmaceuticals. Dangerous side effects and rebound weight gain has made the cure seem worse than the syndrome itself and left people uncertain where to turn. The only way to safely deal with the global obesity problem is to develop strategic therapeutic interventions using safe, natural supplements supported by credible research.
With contributions from pioneers and esteemed leaders in their respective fields Obesity: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Prevention is a comprehensive resource covering a broad range of topics associated with obesity. Divided into eight sections, the text covers epidemiology and pathophysiology, correlating obesity with environmental estrogens, disordered eating, inflammatory responses, and endocrine disruption. Contributions also address neurobiology and neurotransmitters, leptin, ghrelin (the hunger hormone) and molecular genetics.
The book devotes several chapters to obesity and its related degenerative diseases, drug development and adipose-targeted drugs, and the safety of obesity drugs. An expansive portion of the book considers natural, nutritional, and physical approaches to weight management. Taking an evidence based approach, it explores exercise, diet (including vegetarian and Atkin’s diets), gender differences, and caloric restriction, along with research on a wide range of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and natural supplements such as hydroxycitric acid, marine lipids, tea, chitosan, calcium, polyphenolic compounds, trivalent chromium, ephedra, and glucomannan. Special sections on the intricacies of childhood obesity and the benefits of bariatric surgery round out the array of information.
With unparalleled depth of coverage, Obesity: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Prevention provides medical professionals, nutritionists, and researchers with an unprecedented reference for managing obesity.
Synopsis
The obesity epidemic has spawned an unlimited array of quick-fix, rapid weight loss plans and unproven pharmaceuticals. Dangerous side effects and rebound weight gain has made the cure seem worse than the syndrome itself and left people uncertain where to turn. The only way to safely deal with the global obesity problem is to develop strategic therapeutic interventions using safe, natural supplements supported by credible research.
With contributions from pioneers and esteemed leaders in their respective fields Obesity: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Prevention is a comprehensive resource covering a broad range of topics associated with obesity. Divided into eight sections, the text covers epidemiology and pathophysiology, correlating obesity with environmental estrogens, disordered eating, inflammatory responses, and endocrine disruption. Contributions also address neurobiology and neurotransmitters, leptin, ghrelin (the hunger hormone) and molecular genetics.
The book devotes several chapters to obesity and its related degenerative diseases, drug development and adipose-targeted drugs, and the safety of obesity drugs. An expansive portion of the book considers natural, nutritional, and physical approaches to weight management. Taking an evidence based approach, it explores exercise, diet (including vegetarian and Atkin’s diets), gender differences, and caloric restriction, along with research on a wide range of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and natural supplements such as hydroxycitric acid, marine lipids, tea, chitosan, calcium, polyphenolic compounds, trivalent chromium, ephedra, and glucomannan. Special sections on the intricacies of childhood obesity and the benefits of bariatric surgery round out the array of information.
With unparalleled depth of coverage, Obesity: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Prevention provides medical professionals, nutritionists, and researchers with an unprecedented reference for managing obesity.
Doody Review Services
Reviewer:Dale A. Schoeller, PhD(University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Description:This book is divided into four sections covering obesity prevalence, energy homeostasis, obesity related diseases, and obesity prevention, which is the longest section and is largely devoted to the effects of nutritional and herbal supplements and specific foods. Although written by a variety of authors, the 41 chapters are similarly formatted.
Purpose:The reviews are timely and relatively complete, providing a good capsule of the current information. Additional reviews on adding physical activity to daily life, food choices, behavioral modification, and other aspects of a healthy lifestyle would have been helpful.
Audience:The book is aimed at health professionals who are working with patients attempting to control or reduce their weight. The authors are experienced investigators in their fields and the reviews are reasonably complete.
Features:The coverage of obesity related topics is good, but not outstanding. There is an overemphasis on nutritional and herbal supplements and not enough coverage of a general healthy lifestyle and how one goes about changing a lifestyle. The book has an average number of black-and-white illustrations and an excellent index.
Assessment:Each chapter has multiple subheadings, making it easy to retrieve information. The major limitation might be the overemphasis on supplements and herbals for weight control and the underemphasis on the goals for, and methods to achieve, a healthy lifestyle related to weight control.
Editorials
From The Critics
Reviewer: Dale A. Schoeller, PhD(University of Wisconsin-Madison)Description: This book is divided into four sections covering obesity prevalence, energy homeostasis, obesity related diseases, and obesity prevention, which is the longest section and is largely devoted to the effects of nutritional and herbal supplements and specific foods. Although written by a variety of authors, the 41 chapters are similarly formatted.
Purpose: The reviews are timely and relatively complete, providing a good capsule of the current information. Additional reviews on adding physical activity to daily life, food choices, behavioral modification, and other aspects of a healthy lifestyle would have been helpful.
Audience: The book is aimed at health professionals who are working with patients attempting to control or reduce their weight. The authors are experienced investigators in their fields and the reviews are reasonably complete.
Features: The coverage of obesity related topics is good, but not outstanding. There is an overemphasis on nutritional and herbal supplements and not enough coverage of a general healthy lifestyle and how one goes about changing a lifestyle. The book has an average number of black-and-white illustrations and an excellent index.
Assessment: Each chapter has multiple subheadings, making it easy to retrieve information. The major limitation might be the overemphasis on supplements and herbals for weight control and the underemphasis on the goals for, and methods to achieve, a healthy lifestyle related to weight control.