This text is intended to be a review of the breadth and depth of current research in the area of obesity. This two-volume set easily achieves this goal. Experts in the field of obesity research author the chapters. Overall this text is perfect for anyone who is pursuing research in the area of obesity because it provides in depth and up-to-date information on all areas of obesity research. As an obesity researcher myself, I found the chapters in my specific areas of research (epidemiology, economics, drug therapy, and bariatric surgery) to be informative and accurate. I benefited most from the chapters in other areas of obesity research that I don’t often have time to review – pathophysiology, behavioral treatment, and etiology – in my current practice. I would highly recommend this text to other obesity researchers. Looking at this text through eyes of an internal medicine physician, I find that it is a bit long-winded and overly focused on etiology and pathophysiology, with not enough information about how to apply the clinical research to my individual practice.

     This text is published in two volumes. The first volume, which focuses on etiology and pathophysiology, is not very useful in practice; the only chapter I believe to be helpful from this volume is Ch. 2 Evaluation of Total and Regional Adiposity (because it gives some practical information about assessing measures of obesity in clinical practice). The second volume, which focuses on clinical applications, is much more useful in clinical practice; and I believe represents very well the most recent evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of medical and surgical treatments for obesity. The chapters here are written by experts in their field and are very well organized. There is a bit of overlap between the chapters on behavioral approaches, exercise, and preventing weight regain; however, this overlap is not excessive.

    This text would be useful to physicians in primary care and should required reading for any obesity treatment specialist, including those that are engaged in nutritional, behavioral, pharmacologic, and surgical treatment of obesity. This text should be heavily marketed to groups of clinicians who specialize in the treatment of obesity.

     This book comprehensively evaluates the vast evidence regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of obesity, and provides succinct reviews that give the reader a good sense of the complexity of this condition and its complications.

     Today’s popular culture is obsessed with diets and weight loss options. Too little attention is paid to this issue in this text. The implications of the lack of available evidence on these diets is overlooked. Several of the most recent advances in the dietary treatment are also overlooked. The text on behavioral treatments focuses primarily on the evidence for low-fat diets. Newer evidence on the low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets is very compelling, and a chapter dedicated to this area is warranted. Also, a chapter comparing commercial weight loss programs, such as Weight Watchers, etc. is also missing. These issues may not be as rigorously evaluated in the medical literature, but they are very practically relevant to the practicing clinician.

Ratings: (1-4, 4 being the highest)

Organization of information:    4

Usefulness of book:     4

Suitable for intended audience:    4

Author’s objectives met:      4

Sufficient number of Figures/ illustrations:     3

Quality of Figures/ illustrations:    3

Table of Contents:

Handbook of Obesity:  Etiology and Pathophysiology

Part I:  History, Definition, and Prevalence

Chapter 1.     Historical Framework for the Development of Ideas About Obesity

Chapter 2.     Evaluation of Total and Regional Adiposity

Chapter 3.     Ethnic and Geographic Influences on Body Composition

Chapter 4.     Prevalence of Obesity in Adults:  The Global Epidemic

Chapter 5.     Fetal Origins of Obesity

Chapter 6.     Pediatric Overweight:  An Overview

Chapter 7.     Obesity in the Elderly:  Prevalence, Consequences, and Treatment

Chapter 8.     Economic Costs of Obesity

Part II:  Etiology

Chapter 9.     Genetics of Human Obesity

Chapter 10.   Molecular Genetics of Rodent and Human Single Gene Mutations Affecting Body Composition

Chapter 11.   Rodent Models of Obesity

Chapter 12.   Primates in the Study of Aging-Associated Obesity

Chapter 13.   Behavioral Neuroscience and Obesity

Chapter 14.   Experimental Studies on the Control of Food Intake

Chapter 15.   Diet Composition and the Control of Food Intake in Humans

Chapter 16.   Central Integration of Peripheral Signals in the Regulation of Food Intake and Energy Balance:  Role of Leptin and Insulin

Chapter 17.   Development of White Adipose Tissue

Chapter 18.   Lipolysis and Lipid Mobilization in Human Adipose Tissue

Chapter 19.   Lipodystrophy and Lipoatrophy

Chapter 20.   Uncoupling Proteins

Chapter 21.   Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ and the Transcriptional Control of Adipogenesis and Metabolism

Chapter 22.   Biology of Visceral Adipose Tissue

Chapter 23.   Resting Energy Expenditure, Thermic Effect of Food, and Total Energy Expenditure

Chapter 24.   Energy Expenditure in Physical Activity

Chapter 25.   Endocrine Determinants of Obesity

Chapter 26.   Endocrine Determinants of Fat Distribution

Chapter 27.   Sympathoadrenal System and Metabolism

Chapter 28.   Energy Expenditure and Substrate Oxidation

Chapter 29.   Skeletal Muscle and Obesity

Chapter 30.   Nutrient Partitioning

Part III:  Pathophysiology

Chapter 31.   Obesity and Mortality Rates

Chapter 32.   Etiology of the Metabolic Syndrome

Chapter 33.   Obesity as a Risk Factor for Major Health Outcomes

Chapter 34.   Effects of Obesity on the Cardiovascular System

Chapter 35.   Obesity and Lipoprotein Metabolism

Chapter 36.   Obesity and Blood Pressure Regulation

Chapter 37.   Obesity and Diabetes

Chapter 38.   Obesity and Gallbladder Disease

Chapter 39.   Obesity and Pulmonary Function

Chapter 40.   Obesity, Arthritis, and Gout

Chapter 41.   Obesity, Pregnancy, and Infertility

Chapter 42.   Physical Activity, Obesity, and Health Outcomes

Chapter 43.   Obesity and Quality of Life

Handbook of Obesity:  Clinical Applications

Part I:  Evaluation

Chapter 1.     Classification and Evaluation of the Overweight Patient

Chapter 2.     Obesity and the Primary Care Physician

Chapter 3.     Cultural Differences as Influences on Approaches to Obesity Treatment

Chapter 4.     Bias, Prejudice, Discrimination, and Obesity

Part II:  Prevention

Chapter 5.     Prevention of Obesity

Chapter 6.     Influence of Obesity-Producing Environments

Chapter 7.     Prevention and Management of Dyslipidemia and the Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Patients

Chapter 8.     Obesity and Eating Disorders

Part III:  Treatment

Chapter 9.     Behavioral Approaches to the Treatment of Obesity

Chapter 10.   Exercise as a Treatment for Obesity

Chapter 11.   Preventing Weight Regain After Weight Loss

Chapter 12.   Sympathomimetic and Serotonergic Drugs Used to Treat Obesity

Chapter 13.   Drugs that Modify Fat Absorption and Alter Metabolism

Chapter 14.   Leptin:  From Laboratory to Clinic

Chapter 15.   Drugs on the Horizon and Drugs Relegated to History

Chapter 16.   Drugs with Thermogenic Properties

Chapter 17.   Herbal and Alternative Approaches to Obesity

Chapter 18.   Surgical Treatment of Obesity:  An Overview and Results from the SOS Study