Despite a better perception regarding causes of obesity, the number of obese and overweight people is rising at an alarming rate. According to statistics presented at the 14th European Congress on Obesity, more than 300 million people worldwide are affected by obesity. Studies evaluate that obesity rates in Europe have risen 15 percent in the past ten years, while in Japan it has doubled since 1982.

The big concern among specialists is the astounding number of obese and overweight children. In the US for instance, the percentage of obese young population has tripled in the past 25 years.

Obesity is no more an aestetic problem. In some West Europe countries, up to 8 percent of total healthcare budget is related to obesity and its complications. In our days, the obese condition is tightly connected to a number of severe diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis and other significant health problems that are considerate causes of death.

The actual finding that excess weight is going epidemic leads to the conclusion that obesity must be recognized and treated as a disease with fatal complications. Most of the prevention efforts must target the young population because obese condition in children is close associated to certain high risks of developing heart disease, stroke and diabetes in later life.