[Obesity: epidemiology, socio-political implications and conventional management]

Obesity: epidemiology, socio-political implications and conventional management Abstract. Obesity is a chronic and complex psychosomatic disorder of multifactorial origin associated with cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, orthopedic and psychological comorbidities. This polimorbidity requires lifelong monitoring and specialized multidisciplinary management. In addition, the silent nature of these diseases, associated with the aging of the population and growing life expectancy, further increases the impact of this chronic disease on the overall morbidity and mortality. In Switzerland, obesity is now epidemic, as it is worldwide, and affects about 11 % of our population. This percentage is gradually increasing to the point that obesity is considered a public health problem. The direct and indirect costs of obesity account for about 8 % of total health consumption. The management of this complex disease must always be long-term and must integrate the dietary, behavioral and psychological aspects according to the profile of the patient.