This volume continues the well-established series of proceedings of the international congresses on obesity. Obesity remains a prevalent disorder in the western world and is a serious public health concern because it is a significant forerunner of major chronic debilitating diseases including diabetes, hypertension, lipid disorders and coronary atheroscierosis. The seventh International Congress on Obesity held in toronto, Canada, August 1994, was an important milestone in the annals of obesity research because it focused on the causes, the complications and the treatment and prevention of this disorder. It was unique because research spanned a range of scientific inquiry from cellular biology to population issues. Atempts to reverse the epidemic of over-nutrition have not been successful but pursuit of understanding the underlying mechanisms and consequences of obesity are unremitting. This book, based on these proceedings, represents the most comprehensive assemblage of contemporary obesity research available and will stand as a reference text for scientific community and for students of the obesity paradigm.