pt. 1. Introduction: Epidemiology of obesity ; Epidemiology of obesity : a global burden for the new millennium -- pt. 2. Pathophysiology of obesity: Environmental estrogens, endocrine disruption, and obesity ; Cigarette smoking, inflammation, and obesity ; Disordered eating as a correlate in the development of obesity ; Role of neurotransmitters in obesity regulation ; Neurobiology of obesity ; Leptin as a vasoactive adipokine : link between metabolism and vasculature ; Overview of ghrelin, appetite, and energy balance ; Molecular genetics of obesity syndrome : role of DNA methylation -- pt. 3. Obesity and degenerative diseases: Oxidative stress status in humans with metabolic syndrome ; Obesity and type 2 diabetes ; Angiogenesis-targeted redox-based therapeutics ; Obesity as an occult risk factor for drug and chemical toxicities -- pt. 4. Novel concept in obesity drug development: Adipose drug targets for obesity treatment -- pt. 5. Safety of obesity drugs: Safety of obesity drugs --

pt. 6. Natural, nutritional, and physical approaches to weight management: The fundamental role of physical activity and exercise in weight management ; Nutritional and dietary approaches for weight management : an overview ; Gender differences in body fat utilization during weight gain, loss, or maintenance ; Appetite, body weight, health implications of a low-glycemic-load diet ; Beyond obesity prevention : the anti-aging effects of caloric restriction ; Dietary supplement carbohydrate digestion inhibitors : a review of the literature ; Vegetarian diet in the prevention and treatment of obesity ; The Atkins paradigm ; Polyphenols from fruits and vegetables in weight management and obesity control ; Chromium (III) in promoting weight loss and lean body mass ; An overview on (-)-hydroxycitric acid in obesity regulation ; A review of the safety and efficacy of citrus aurantium in weight management ; Conjugated linoleic acid and weight control : from the biomedical immune viewpoint ; The role of tea in weight management ; Laboratory and clinical studies of chitosan ; Phaseolus vulgaris and a-amylase inhibition ; Glucomannan in weight loss : a review of the evidence ; Role of caralluma fumbriata in weight management ; Role of medium-chain triglycerides in weight management ; Anti-obesity by marine lipids ; Dairy foods, calcium, and weight management ; Lessons from the use of ephedra products as dietary supplements ; Dietary supplementation in weight loss : a dietitian's perspective -- pt. 7. Child obesity and prevention: Treatment and prevention of childhood obesity and associated metabolic diseases -- pt. 8. Bariatric surgery in weight management: Bariatric surgery in obesity and reversal of metabolic disorders.