Weight

Overweight and obesity are an international pandemic. The causes are mostly nutritional and are related to excessive caloric intake and a sedentary lifestyle. Often investigations are done to look for an underlying cause such as an hormonal imbalance (thyroid, cortisol), or to investigate for associated disorders that may accompany or be caused by the obesity such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, dyslipidemia (high cholesterol), type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance.

Whatever the cause the condition requires a careful assessment and intervention because the short, intermediate and long term consequences of obesity are dire.

Many people think that children can regulate their own food intake, this is a myth. Children need to be taught the principles and practice of a healthy life-style from an early age.

Some specific obesity syndromes need specialist intervention such as Prader-Willi syndrome, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, Alstrom syndrome and Down syndrome.

Key words

Prader-Willi syndrome

Low GI Diet

PCOS

Dyslipidemia

Type 2 diabetes

Insulin resistance