Obesity. Pathogenesis, consequences, and approaches to treatment.

Research has demonstrated that obesity is far more complex than simply eating too much. Although the individual who is only modestly overweight is probably guilty of overindulgence, the grossly obese individual is the victim of a far more complex disorder with genetic, metabolic, psychosocial, and perhaps central nervous system malfunctions all interacting in a poorly understood fashion. The medical consequences of morbid obesity are considerable and demand the patient's and the physician's attention. This article discusses pathogenesis, consequences, and approaches to treatment.