[Obesity: a multifactorial disorder with difficult long-term treatment].

Obesity is a social disease and amounts to a real medical problem. After considering its epidemiology, the authors discuss diagnostic methods, etiopathogenesis, clinical features, complications, and management of obesity. Special stress is laid upon particular problems concerning the causes of obesity which are often difficult to identify, and difficulties of long-term treatment. Thus it becomes obvious that the disorder must be prevented, and maximum attention must be placed on renewed weight increase.