Obesity Epidemiology. from Aetiology to Public Health

ABOUT THIS BOOK

• Revised and updated to be part of the new From Aetiology to Public Health series, which examines top public health issues from aetiology through to public health and prevention
• Assists those concerned with understanding prevalence and trends in obesity; its health, social and economic consequences, the underlying causes of the obesity epidemic, the existing evidence regarding strategies to prevent obesity, and the potential of public health initiatives to impact on the prevalence of obesity
• Includes 12 new chapters covering the epidemiology of obesity in children and adults, and the potential of public health approaches to helping its prevention

New to this edition

• 12 new chapters covering the epidemiology of obesity in children and adults, and the potential public health approaches to its prevention

Although recognised clinically for some time as an important condition that increases risk of ill-health in affected individuals, it is only recently that obesity had been recognised as a population-wide problem that requires preventive action. Obesity is a major contributor to diseases and disability, the associated health costs are enormous and obesity has already reached epidemic proportions in many countries, and incidence is continuing to increase in children and adults. Disturbingly the epidemic is not confined to developed countries, with many developing countries and those in transition affected. While recognised as a major population health problem, our understanding of the causes of the epidemic is poor, there has been relatively little population-based research that has focused on the prevention of unhealthy weight gain, and as a consequence knowledge regarding how and where best to intervene is limited.

Revised and updated and now part of the From Aetiology to Public Health series, Obesity Epidemiology provides a scholarly text that assists those concerned with understanding prevalence and trends in obesity; its health, social and economic consequences, the underlying causes of the obesity epidemic, the existing evidence regarding strategies to prevent obesity, and the potential of public health initiatives to impact on the population prevalence of obesity. This edition not only provides a thorough update of the material presented in the previous edition (entitled Obesity Prevention and Public Health), but also includes twelve new chapters that cover the epidemiology of obesity in children and adults, and the potential of public health approaches to its prevention.

This book will be of interest to all those working in public health and epidemiology; health policy makers, and clinicians and health practitioners working in the related fields of nutrition, exercise and diabetes.

About the series
By looking at public health issues from a unique condition-based approach, the innovative From Aetiology to Public Health series examines top public health issues from aetiology through to public health and prevention.

Readership: This book will be of interest to all those working in public health and epidemiology; health policy makers and clinicians and health practitioners working in the related fields of nutrition, exercise and diabetes.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part 1: The Epidemiology of Obesity
1: Tim Lobstein: Prevalence and trends in childhood obesity
2: Jacob C. Seidell: Prevalence and trends in adult obesity in affluent countries
3: John J. Reilly, Kerry-Anne Houston-Callaghan, Zoe Donaghey and Shaza Hammed: Physical health consequences of child and adolescent obesity
4: Michael Lean: Health consequences of overweight and obesity in adults
5: Andrew J. Hill: Psychosocial issues in obese children and adults
6: Falk Müller-Riemenschneider, Thomas Reinhold, Adrian von Schulzendorff and Stefan N Willich: Health economic burden of obesity - an international perspective

Part 2: The Drivers of the Obesity Epidemic
7: Lisa J. Harnack and Kathryn H. Schmitz: The role of nutrition and physical activity in the obesity epidemic
8: Kylie Ball and David Crawford: The role of socio-cultural factors in the obesity epidemic
9: Jennifer A. Linde and Robert W. Jeffery: Evolving environmental factors in the obesity epidemic
10: Barry M. Popkin: The implications of the nutrition transition for obesity in the developing world

Part 3: The Existing Evidence Regarding Prevention
11: Simone A. French: Population approaches to promote healthful eating behaviours
12: Jo Salmon and Abby King: Population approaches to increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour among children and adults
13: Jennifer A. Linde and Robert W. Jeffery: Population approaches to obesity prevention
14: Kelliann K. Davis and John M. Jakicic: The role of surgical, pharmacological, and other treatment options
15: Rob Carter and Marj Moodie: The cost-effectiveness of obesity prevention

Part 4: Potential Approaches to Prevention
16: Shawna L. Mercer, Laura Kettel Khan, Lawrence W. Green, Abby C. Rosenthal, Rose Nathan, Corinne G. Husten, and William H. Dietz: Drawing possible lessons for obesity prevention and control from the tobacco control experience
17: Karen Campbell, Kylie Hesketh, and Kirsten Krahnstoever Davison: The role of parents in preventing child overweight and obesity: an ecological approach
18: Ellen J. Fried: The potential for policy initiatives to address the obesity epidemic: a legal perspective from the United States
19: Mark Lawrence: The potential of food regulation as a policy instrument for obesity prevention in developing countries
20: Tim G Townshend: What role can urban planning and transportation policy play in the prevention of obesity?
21: Eric A. Finkelstein and Thomas J. Hoerger: Can fiscal approaches help to reduce obesity risk?
22: Hans C.M. van Trijp: Social marketing approaches to obesity prevention
23: Carolyn Summerbell and Frances Hillier: Community interventions and initiatives to prevent obesity
24: Zoe Feldman, Dondeena Bradley and Danielle Greenberg: The food and beverage industry's efforts regarding obesity prevention
25: Marlene B. Schwartz and Kelly D. Brownell: The need for courageous action to prevent obesity
26: David Crawford, Kylie Ball, Robert W. Jeffery and Johannes Brug: Conclusion: Obesity and its prevention in the 21st century

AUTHOR INFORMATION

Edited by David Crawford, Director, Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Australia, Robert W. Jeffery, Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, USA, Kylie Ball, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Australia, and Johannes Brug, Director of the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Professor of Epidemiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands