Obesity an overview: Genetic conditions and recent developments in therapeutic interventions

Obesity is a complex disorder that is linked to many coexisting disorders. Recent epidemiological data have suggested that the prevalence of obesity is at an all-time high, growing to be one of the world's biggest problems. There are several mechanisms on how individuals develop obesity which includes genetic and environmental factors. Not only does obesity contribute to other health issues but it also greatly affects the quality of life, physical ability, mental strength and imposes a huge burden in terms of healthcare costs. Along with that, obesity is associated with the risk of mortality and has been shown to reduce the median survival rate. Obesity is basically when the body is not able to balance energy intake and output. When energy intake exceeds energy expenditure, excess calories will be stored as fat leading to weight gain and eventually obesity. The therapeutic market for treating obesity is composed of many different interventions from lifestyle intervention, surgical procedures to pharmacotherapeutic approaches. All of these interventions have their respective benefits and disadvantages and are specifically prescribed to a patient based on the severity of their obesity as well as the existence of other health conditions. This review discusses the genetic and environmental causes of obesity along with the recent developments in anti-obesity therapies.