glycaemia.1 This insulin-induced hypoglycaemia activates the corticotrophin releasing factor-corticotrophin-glucocorticoid axis. This permanent stimulation is afterwards responsible for the steady hypercorticism in obesity. Glucocorticoids as well as other antiinsulin factors, involve tissue insulin resistance and hyperglycaeniia which, by stimulating the /-cells result in their hyperplasia. Thus the chain of pathogenesis of obesity may be shown as follows: :-cells hypersensitivity to carbohydrates-postprandial hyperinsulinism-postprandial hypoglycaemia-hypercorticism-tissue resistance to insulin and hyperglycaemia-A-cell hyperplasia. The energy imbalance with predominant intake is a result of intensive lipogenesis resulting from hyperinsulinism. Excessive insulin response to glucose load in obese subjects is well known. But for the successful prevention of obesity it is necessary to separate the "pre-obese" subjects. This group consists of the patients with normal weight and excessive insulin response to glucose load.-We are, etc., BORIS DRAZNIN