This book comprehensively addresses many of the causes, complications and treatments of obesity for the lay public. Despite the billions of dollars per year spent on diets, weight reducing products and techniques, few understand the fundamental nature of the problems, the complications, or the strategies available to overcome obesity. These challenges may recently have been radically changed with the emergence of new effective medications, not only for obesity, but for diabetes, and other related health problems which are the major killers today. Dr. Taylor tackles the issues of energy intake and expenditure while describing in detail the most popular diets such as The South Beach and Weight Watchers. He also explores the psychological and physical constraints of losing weight, related socioeconomic factors, and the different types of surgical treatments and their possible effects, outcomes and complications. Although large amounts of weight can be lost following surgical treatment, for the first time ever, a group of drugs is now available that has been shown to also provide large weight loss, thereby presenting a challenge to surgical treatments. Dr.

Taylor has performed over 1,000 surgical weight loss procedures, but always concerned about the risks facing this vulnerable group of patients. There may now be alternative methods that are potentially safer than and as efficient as major surgery.