The most common causes of obesity are overeating first the food and energy, and to a lesser extent: metabolic endocrine disorders (Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism, etc.)

Certain psychological disorders (Bulimia nervosa), the iatrogenic (related to consumption of certain drugs like steroids, etc.), and in extreme obesity, genetic factors (current research). In all likelihood one of the tasks ahead is to develop preventive level of each country.

These are general recommendations that should be made to the general population from the schools, media, health institutions, etc. They cover a number of indications that must be assumed by the general population (decreased saturated fat intake, increased fiber intake, moderation in intake of sugar, alcohol and salt, etc.) The second approach should be made to individual level, bearing in mind that obesity is a chronic disease and must be treated as such.

For the success of treatment, depending on each case, it may be necessary to have the cooperation of the Family Physician, Dietician, Specialist in Endocrinology, psychologists, etc., But it must be stated unequivocally that the initial treatment of obesity should be run by the family physician and a dietician.

Treatment: It is given according to the type of obesity and its etiology (For example: If hypothyroidism is essential hormonal treatment in addition to the care of the food).

They are as diverse factors that trigger and affect the treatment of obesity is crucial that a multidisciplinary approach in setting the most appropriate treatment: medical (to identify the cause and assess a possible pharmacological treatment or surgery in extreme degrees) diet (reducing calories from the daily diet of obese and erroneous change dietary habits through Nutrition Education), psychological (anxiety control and analysis of eating behavior). It also has to recommend exercise training to help increase caloric expenditure.

Characteristics of low-calorie diet:

• You must be individualized, varied and balanced diet, limiting calorie foods and those that provide empty calories (soft drinks, candy, snacks, etc.).
• You must meet the minimum requirement of energy and nutrients from the person (the diets that are below the 1,200 Kcal, prepared on the basis of common foods are nutritionally incomplete and half-long treatment duration should be invoked to supplement poliminerovitamínicos avoid nutritional deficiency)
• The caloric reduction at the start of treatment in mild obesity should not exceed 30-40% of normal caloric intake of the individual. For example: if a person consumes 3000 kcal / day, the initial pattern will be approx. 1800-2000 kcal / day. There must be a progressive decrease of the calories from the diet, diet acceptable and flexible.

Change in eating habits = false maintaining weight loss long term. It is imperative in this approach in people after the initial weight loss in order to keep the weight off, because a high percentage of people a year recover the lost weight.

This requires close contact with the person, both individual and group, in addition to a team of professionals (family physicians, dietitians, etc.). Specially trained in this type of treatment.

There is a parameter that lets you easily define the existence of obesity, body mass index (BMI):
BMI (kg/m2) = Actual Weight / Height x Height
* Weight in Kg
* Length in meters

Obesity is a carrier of any person with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater or equal to 30 kg/m2. Body Mass Index (BMI) also serves to classify the different degrees of obesity:
* BMI 30-40 kg/m2, moderate obesity
* BMI> 40 kg/m2, extreme obesity.

In Spain the prevalence of obesity, according to a study led by Javier Aranceta and collaborators in 1995, was 13.4% in men and women aged 25-60 years. What is more worrying is the fact that it is increasing.

Another important aspect from the point of view of morbidity (increased risk of illness) and mortality, is the fact that people with a BMI over 30, have an increased risk of diabetes (excess weight causes a resistance to insulin and may be caused by either a carbohydrate intolerance, but not all obese people are diabetic and vice versa), hypertension (with increasing body mass, the heart must pump more blood, which is an increase in the values of blood pressure)…,

hyperuricemia and gout (the overeating of foods high in protein causes an increase in uric acid synthesis, especially if there is glucose intolerance), gallstones, hyperlipidemia (high blood cholesterol and triglycerides associated with other risk factors and not only to obesity), respiratory (apnea, snoring?), digestive problems, problems walking, hip and knee osteoarthritis (coxarthrosis and gonarthrosis), psychological and social problems (due to patterns of beauty and the general rejection of obesity in society) and cardiovascular disease.

However when considering the cardiovascular risk is not only important consideration in BMI, but also the distribution of body fat. It is shown that the distribution of abdominal fat is a cardiovascular risk marker more sensitive than BMI itself.

A ratio or waist / hip ratio (measured at umbilicus and hip, respectively) higher than 0.95 in men and 0.80 in women, is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and Diabetes Mellitus.