Table of Contents

Acknowledgments      v
A Message to the Readers      vii
Foreword by Mohsen Ziai, M.D.      1
Preface      3

1. What Is Obesity?      7
2. Why Do People Become Overweight, and Why Are So Many More Young People Overweight?      11
3. Binge-Eating Disorder      27
4. Interviews with Teenagers      30
5. Why Is Being Overweight a Problem?      36
6. Body Image and Self-Esteem      44
7. How Do You Know If You’re Overweight?      51
8. Treatment Basics      54
9. Healthy Nutrition: The First Step in Change      62
10. Physical Activity: The Second Step      79
11. Modifying Your Behaviors      89
12. Medical Treatment for the Overweight      98
13. Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle      101
14. Eating Disorders      114
15. Guide for Parents: Basic Strategies      123
16. Guide for Parents: Focus on Food      138
17. Prevention      147
18. Questions, Answers and a Quiz      150
19. Conclusion      159

Appendix A: The Essentials of a Healthier Lifestyle      161
Appendix B: Medical Conditions Causing or Associated with Obesity      164
Appendix C: Resources      166
Glossary      169
Bibliography      173
Index      179