Obesity

The incidence of obesity increases dramatically.

1.5 billion people over 20 years worldwide are overweight
500 million thereof are obese (1 in 10 in total)
50 million children under the age of 5 are overweight
35 million of them living in developing countries

Therefore obesity is not only a problem of industrialized societies. Worldwide more people die from obesity-related complications than of hunger. Obesity is predominantly a “social and environmental disease” that can be prevented. Recent years have seen a improved understanding of the physiological mechanisms regulating energy homeostasis. However, many questions still remain unanswered.