Obesity and Health: An Interactive and Integrative Approach
Edition: 3
Copyright: 2026
Pages: 408
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Ebook
$108.00 USD
Obesity is one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time, affecting individuals and communities across the globe. Rising rates of overweight and obesity are associated with significant human suffering, increased risk of chronic disease, and substantial economic costs.
This textbook is designed to help readers not only recognize the magnitude of the obesity epidemic but also understand its underlying causes and explore strategies for prevention, management, and treatment. By combining perspectives from biology, nutrition, physiology, genetics, and clinical medicine, the text provides a comprehensive and accessible framework for studying obesity.
Key features of the book include:
- Integrated coverage of the biological, biochemical, behavioral, and clinical aspects of obesity.
- Original figures and diagrams were created to enhance understanding and engagement.
- Focus on prevention and treatment, including lifestyle interventions, medical management, and surgical options.
- Global and community perspectives, emphasizing how culture, environment, and policy contribute to obesity.
- Practical applications, encouraging readers to apply knowledge in health, research, and professional settings.
Our aim is to provide students, educators, and practitioners with a resource that is not only informative but also thought-provoking and relevant to real-world challenges. We hope that this text will inspire readers to take informed and decisive action. Whether in their personal lives, professional practice, or broader communities, they are to address the obesity epidemic with knowledge, compassion, and innovation
Chapter 1: Health, Lifestyle, and Life Expectancy
Chapter 2: Obesity: A Global and National Health Challenge
Chapter 3: Biology of Adipose Tissue and Obesity
Chapter 4: Evaluation and Classification of Body Weight and Body Composition in Adults
Chapter 5: Childhood Obesity
Chapter 6: Health Consequences of Obesity: Diabetes and Cancer
Chapter 7: Obesity as a Well-Known Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease
Chapter 8: Planning a Healthy Diet for Weight Control
Chapter 9: Physical Activity and Body Adaptations
Chapter 10: Energy Balance, Metabolism, Epigenetics, and Body Weight Regulation
Chapter 11: Endocrinology and Obesity
Chapter 12: Neurobiology and Genetics of Obesity
Chapter 13: Treatment of Obesity: Behavioral Approaches
Chapter 14: Advanced Interventions for Obesity: Drugs and Surgery
Dr. Shahla Ray, the primary author of this book, received her masters and doctorate degrees in the field of Biochemistry and her undergraduate degree in Chemistry. She completed her postdoctoral research at Indiana University, Medical Sciences program. Her graduate and post doctorate research were related to human diseases. As a college professor at Indiana University she taught Nutrition and Health classes in the Department of Applied Health Science, School of Public Health since 2003. Realizing the need to acknowledge the obesity epidemic, to learn about this disease and to prevent and treat it in this obesogenic environment, she developed an undergraduate course related to obesity and taught it since 2006. She also co-developed a course related to the biochemical adaptations to exercise and as well as service learning courses offered in the fields of obesity and nutrition. Her current research interests are in the field of obesity, nutrition and eating behavior. She has been especially active in obesity research and has presented her research at major international conferences. In 2016, she developed a cross campus minor entitled Obesity and Health at Indiana University. This minor is offered to many students from different majors and backgrounds.
Dr. James B. Ray, MD has been practicing bariatric surgery since 2004. He has an active interest in improving public health and has made many efforts to treat obesity. He contributed to the development of the undergraduate course related to obesity and the publication of this book. He has researched obesity treatment and presented his research findings in international meetings. He is currently the Director of Bariatric Surgery at Blount Memorial Hospital in Tennessee.
Obesity is one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time, affecting individuals and communities across the globe. Rising rates of overweight and obesity are associated with significant human suffering, increased risk of chronic disease, and substantial economic costs.
This textbook is designed to help readers not only recognize the magnitude of the obesity epidemic but also understand its underlying causes and explore strategies for prevention, management, and treatment. By combining perspectives from biology, nutrition, physiology, genetics, and clinical medicine, the text provides a comprehensive and accessible framework for studying obesity.
Key features of the book include:
- Integrated coverage of the biological, biochemical, behavioral, and clinical aspects of obesity.
- Original figures and diagrams were created to enhance understanding and engagement.
- Focus on prevention and treatment, including lifestyle interventions, medical management, and surgical options.
- Global and community perspectives, emphasizing how culture, environment, and policy contribute to obesity.
- Practical applications, encouraging readers to apply knowledge in health, research, and professional settings.
Our aim is to provide students, educators, and practitioners with a resource that is not only informative but also thought-provoking and relevant to real-world challenges. We hope that this text will inspire readers to take informed and decisive action. Whether in their personal lives, professional practice, or broader communities, they are to address the obesity epidemic with knowledge, compassion, and innovation
Chapter 1: Health, Lifestyle, and Life Expectancy
Chapter 2: Obesity: A Global and National Health Challenge
Chapter 3: Biology of Adipose Tissue and Obesity
Chapter 4: Evaluation and Classification of Body Weight and Body Composition in Adults
Chapter 5: Childhood Obesity
Chapter 6: Health Consequences of Obesity: Diabetes and Cancer
Chapter 7: Obesity as a Well-Known Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease
Chapter 8: Planning a Healthy Diet for Weight Control
Chapter 9: Physical Activity and Body Adaptations
Chapter 10: Energy Balance, Metabolism, Epigenetics, and Body Weight Regulation
Chapter 11: Endocrinology and Obesity
Chapter 12: Neurobiology and Genetics of Obesity
Chapter 13: Treatment of Obesity: Behavioral Approaches
Chapter 14: Advanced Interventions for Obesity: Drugs and Surgery
Dr. Shahla Ray, the primary author of this book, received her masters and doctorate degrees in the field of Biochemistry and her undergraduate degree in Chemistry. She completed her postdoctoral research at Indiana University, Medical Sciences program. Her graduate and post doctorate research were related to human diseases. As a college professor at Indiana University she taught Nutrition and Health classes in the Department of Applied Health Science, School of Public Health since 2003. Realizing the need to acknowledge the obesity epidemic, to learn about this disease and to prevent and treat it in this obesogenic environment, she developed an undergraduate course related to obesity and taught it since 2006. She also co-developed a course related to the biochemical adaptations to exercise and as well as service learning courses offered in the fields of obesity and nutrition. Her current research interests are in the field of obesity, nutrition and eating behavior. She has been especially active in obesity research and has presented her research at major international conferences. In 2016, she developed a cross campus minor entitled Obesity and Health at Indiana University. This minor is offered to many students from different majors and backgrounds.
Dr. James B. Ray, MD has been practicing bariatric surgery since 2004. He has an active interest in improving public health and has made many efforts to treat obesity. He contributed to the development of the undergraduate course related to obesity and the publication of this book. He has researched obesity treatment and presented his research findings in international meetings. He is currently the Director of Bariatric Surgery at Blount Memorial Hospital in Tennessee.