on controversies and informed action.In this timely and revealing handbook, two of the foremost experts on obesity provide an up-to-date, scientifically accurate, yet accessible study of our current understanding of the causes, consequences, and most effective responses to this persistent health threat.Obesity: A Reference Handbook helps readers unravel the connections between obesity, genetics, and the environmental and behavioral factors that might exacerbate the condition. It brings together the latest findings from a wide range of recent studies, including those aimed at defining obesity, analyzing diets, and evaluating medication and surgical treatments. The handbook also explores the economic and social ramifications of obesity, covering issues such as weight discrimination and the complex question of how to determine responsibility for prevention and treatment. Readers will also encounter the researchers, businesses, activists, and government agencies working to alleviate obesity in the United States and worldwide.• Primary source documents, including excerpts from the U.S. Surgeon General's 2001 Call to Action, the 2004 Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHBLI) Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults (1998) • List of state and federal government organizations that offer additional information about obesity• Online resources offering in-depth information on food issues

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