Promotes the recognition, treatment, and prevention of conditions of overweight and obesity in the United States.

"Offers much valuable advice on how parents and communities can address the problem." -- The New York Times A groundbreaking study: Includes a 7-step plan for raising healthy-weight children. In 2001, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a press release to the American public containing some disturbing statistics: 14 percent of teenagers and 13 percent of children were overweight or obese. This skyrocketing figure is associated with increases in high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes, as well as higher obesity figures in the adult population. In response to the growing crisis affecting America's youth, Frances M. Berg, MS, LN, brings her lifetime of knowledge to bear on the problem of obesity in children and teens in the groundbreaking book Underage and Overweight: America's Childhood Obesity Epidemic. Studies and statistics prove that diets and exercise regimens don't work on children and teens; instead, they can lead to eating disorders, malnutrition, and increased weight gain in the long run. More than a diet and exercise plan, Underage and Overweight encourages families to promote a more active lifestyle and provide healthier food choices, rather then prescribing aerobics and limiting portions. A helpful and insightful guide to healthy living for the whole family, Underage and Overweight encourages provides solutions for parents who want to learn how to help their children lead healthier, more active lives.

What's Wrong with Fat? examines the social implications of understanding fatness as a medical health risk, disease, and epidemic. Examining the ways in which debates over fatness have developed, Abigail Saguy argues that the obesity crisis literally makes us fat, intensifies negative body image, and justifies weight-based discrimination.

Discrimination based on body shape and size remains commonplace in today's society. This important volume explores the nature, causes, and consequences of weight bias and presents a range of approaches to combat it. Leading psychologists, health professionals, attorneys, and advocates cover such critical topics as the barriers facing obese adults and children in health care, work, and school settings; how to conceptualize and measure weight-related stigmatization; theories on how stigma develops; the impact on self-esteem and health, quite apart from the physiological effects of obesity; and strategies for reducing prejudice and bringing about systemic change.

Obesity among American children has reached epidemic proportions. Laura Dawes traces changes in diagnosis, treatment, and popular conceptions of the most serious health problem facing American children today, and makes the case that understanding the cultural history of a disease is critical to developing effective public health policy.

Unlike other areas of medicine where statistics are meticulously kept by governments and global organizations, there are no accurate data to describe the number of the world's inhabitants who are overweight, obese, or morbidly obese. Despite this knowledge deficit, it should come as no surprise to readers that the medical community is facing an epidemic. Obesity is present in many of the developed countries and can also be observed in some urban areas of developing nations. The cause of this epidemic, simply stated, is overeating, but the overriding concern is more complex. Social factors, such as growing affluence since the 1950s, increasing reliance on pre-prepared meals, and the popularity of fast foods and sweetened drinks, have all contributed to the problem. Without doubt, the obesity epidemic has had adverse effects on both men and women, but in the case of women, some of its worse complications occur with those who are severely obese and pregnant. Obviously, this combination has been seen in the past, but it has increased so dramatically in its frequency that research has yet to catch up. Studies may discuss one or another aspect of caring for the obese pregnant patient, but until now, there has been no attempt to draw all such material together to try and present a comprehensive appraisal of the problem. Written by international experts, this practical guide draws on evidence-based material and is an invaluable resource for healthcare professionals dealing with obese pregnant women on a day-to-day basis.

The Roundtable on Obesity Solutions of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine held a workshop in Washington, DC, on April 6, 2017, titled The Challenge of Treating Obesity and Overweight: A Workshop. The discussions covered treatments for obesity, overweight, and severe obesity in adults and children; emerging treatment opportunities; the development of a workforce for obesity treatments; payment and policy considerations; and promising paths to move forward. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop.

The prevalence of childhood obesity is so high in the United States that it may reduce the life expectancy of today's generation of children. While parents and other adult caregivers play a fundamental role in teaching children about healthy behaviors, even the most positive efforts can be undermined by local environments that are poorly suited to supporting healthy behaviors. For example, many communities lack ready sources of healthy food choices, such as supermarkets and grocery stores. Or they may not provide safe places for children to walk or play. In such communities, even the most motivated child or adolescent may find it difficult to act in healthy ways. Local governments-with jurisdiction over many aspects of land use, food marketing, community planning, transportation, health and nutrition programs, and other community issues-are ideally positioned to promote behaviors that will help children and adolescents reach and maintain healthy weights. Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity presents a number of recommendations that touch on the vital role of government actions on all levels-federal, state, and local-in childhood obesity prevention. The book offers healthy eating and physical activity strategies for local governments to consider, making it an excellent resource for mayors, managers, commissioners, council members, county board members, and administrators.

Five decades ago, the major nutrition-related issues facing the United States were nutrient deficiencies, under consumption of calories, and malnutrition. In 2016, however, the food landscape is drastically different, and today, the United States faces nutrition-related issues more closely associated with over consumption of calories, bigger waistlines, and chronic disease. Overweight and obesity now afflict the majority of U.S. adults and a large percentage of U.S. children. In addition, diet-related chronic diseases that used to be exclusively observed among adults (e.g., cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension) are now being detected in children and adolescents. To lower the risk and/or assist with the management of chronic illnesses, overweight and obese patients are frequently advised to lose weight. Although there are many proposed "quick fixes" for weight loss, long-term weight management is a struggle for most patients. As such, nutrition and healthcare clinicians need to understand the etiology of weight gain and the science-based steps necessary for proper and adequate weight management interventions. This textbook comprehensively examines the treatment of overweight and obesity using an individualized approach. Interventions including diet and behavioral modification, pharmacotherapy, surgery, and physical activity are discussed in the context of an overall lifestyle approach to weight management. Characteristics of successful weight management programs are explored, and example menu plans are provided.