The number of overweight patients continues to rise steadily. In order to help them, the causes and therapeutic options need to be clarified. What role does genetic predisposition play? Can obesity be a cause of cancer? Who should lose how much weight? How effective are diets? Psychotherapy? Medications? Is the gastric balloon obsolete? This book provides clear answers to these and many other questions. Numerous tables and graphs illustrate current study results without excessive scientific jargon. All aspects of the interdisciplinary problem of obesity are presented in an easily understandable manner for doctors and nutritionists.