The prevalence of obesity, measured by body mass index, has risen to unacceptable levels in both men and women in the United States and worldwide with resultant hazardous health implications. Genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors influence the development of obesity, and both the general public and health professionals stigmatize those who suffer from the disease. Obesity is associated with and contributes to a shortened life span, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, some cancers, kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea, gout, osteoarthritis, and hepatobiliary disease, among others. Weight loss reduces all of these diseases in a dose-related manner-the more weight lost, the better the outcome. The phenotype of "medically healthy obesity" appears to be a transient state that progresses over time to an unhealthy phenotype, especially in children and adolescents. Weight loss is best achieved by reducing energy intake and increasing energy expenditure. Programs that are effective for weight loss include peer-reviewed and approved lifestyle modification programs, diets, commercial weight-loss programs, exercise programs, medications, and surgery. Over-the-counter herbal preparations that some patients use to treat obesity have limited, if any, data documenting their efficacy or safety, and there are few regulatory requirements. Weight regain is expected in all patients, especially when treatment is discontinued. When making treatment decisions, clinicians should consider body fat distribution and individual health risks in addition to body mass index.

Table of contentsI1 Introduction and aims of the workshopChrista Scheidt-Nave, Thomas Ziese, Judith Fuchs, Dietrich PlassS1 History, concept, and current results of GBD for GermanyTom Achoki, Katherine Leach-Kemon, Peter Speyer, William E. Heisel, Emmanuela Gakidou, Theo VosS2 Methodology of the GBD 2013 Study–Mortality, Morbidity, Risk-FactorsMohammad Hossein ForouzanfarS3 National burden of disease surveillance examples of good practice: the case of Public Health EnglandJürgen C. SchmidtS4 Critical aspects of the burden of disease methodology and country-specific challengesClaudia E. SteinS5 Non-communicable disease surveillance in Germany – public health and data challengesChrista Scheidt-Nave, Elena von der Lippe, Benjamin Barnes, Markus Busch, Nina Buttmann-Schweiger, Judith Fuchs, Christin Heidemann, Klaus Kraywinkel, Enno Nowossadeck, Thomas ZieseS6 Different approaches in estimating the burden of communicable diseases using the examples of the healthcare associated infections and influenzaUdo Buchholz, Matthias an der Heiden, Tim Eckmanns, Sebastian HallerS7 Behavioral and environmental attributable risk estimationMohammad Hossein ForouzanfarS8 Environmental Burden of Disease (EBD) in Germany – past achievements and future perspectivesDietrich Plass, Myriam Tobollik, Dagmar Kallweit, Dirk WintermeyerC1 Conclusions of the workshopChrista Scheidt-Nave, Thomas Ziese, Judith Fuchs, Dietrich Plass