Offering perspectives on the history, prevalence and genetics of obesity, this book examines the origins and etiology of obesity. It considers the relationship between behavioural neuroscience and obesity.

Table of Contents

History, Definitions, and Prevalence - Historical Framework for the Development of Ideas About Obesity George A. Bray, Evaluation of Total and Regional Adiposity, Steven B. Heymsfield, Richard N. Baumgartner, David B. Allison, ZiMian Wang, and Robert Ross, Ethnic and Geographic Influences on Body Composition Paul Deurenberg and Mabel Deurenberg-Yap; Prevalence of Obesity in Adults - The Global Epidemic, Jacob C. Seidell and Aila M. Rissanen; The Fetal Origins of Obesity, David J. P. Barker; Pediatric Obesity - An Overview, Bettylou Sherry and William H. Dietz; Obesity in the Elderly - Prevalence, Consequences, and Treatment Robert S. Schwartz; Economic Costs of Obesity Ian D. Caterson, Janet Franklin, and Graham A. Colditz; Etiology; Genetics of Human Obesity Claude Bouchard, Louis P russe, Treva Rice, and D. C. Rao; Molecular Genetics of Rodent and Human Single Gene Mutations Affecting Body Composition Streamson C. Chua, Kathleen Graham and Rudolph L. Leibel; Rodent Models of Obesity David A. York; Primates in the Study of Aging-Associated Obesity Barbara C. Hansen; Behavioral Neuroscience and Obesity Sarah F. Leibowitz and Bartley G. Hoebel; Experimental Studies on the Control of Food Intake Henry S. Koopmans; Diet Composition and the Control of Food Intake in Humans John E. Blundell and James Stubbs; Central Integration of Peripheral Signals in the Regulation of Food Intake and Energy Balance: Role of Leptin and Insulin L. Arthur Campfield, Fran oise J. Smith, and Bernard Jeanrenaud; Development of White Adipose Tissue G rard Ailhaud and Hans Hauner; Lipolysis and Lipid Mobilization in Human Adipose Tissue, Dominique Langin and Max LaFontan; Lipodystrophy and Lipoatrophy Steven R. Smith; Uncoupling Proteins Daniel Ricquier and Leslie P. Kozak. (Part contents).