Obesity is a medical condition characterized by excessive body weight caused by an accumulation of adipose tissue to the extent that the person’s state of health is put at risk. It is a chronic metabolic disorder in the true sense of the term and impairs correct appetite control and energy metabolism.

According to the World Health Organization obesity represents one of the main health problems in the world today, in fact in 2008 it was estimated that nearly 1.5 billion adults were overweight. Of these over 200 million men and nearly 300 million women were obese.

Obesity and overweight, originally considered problems associated only with wealthy countries, are now also on the increase in countries characterized by low and medium incomes, especially in towns and cities. Both conditions are now recognized as being very real public health issues.

According to a study carried out by the World Health Organization, in Europe 25 -79% of adults are overweight with 5 - 30% of them considered obese (percentages vary from country to country).