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Biological Factors in Obesity

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The Eating Disorders

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Overview

Obesity is an extremely common disorder in many societies—both industrial and preindustrial. Like many other pathological conditions, obesity results from a combination of biological, psychological/behavioral, behavioral, and social factors. It is at times very difficult to separate physical findings that are a complication of obesity, rather than a biological factor underlying it. In this chapter, we deal only with biological factors that may contribute to obesity, leaving the issue of complications to others.

If we view obesity as an interaction between host and environmental factors, it seems natural to look at the host factors most likely to lead to increase in weight. Among these areas, much research has been done in the fields of genetics, in the essential biochemistry and neuroanatomy of feeding and satiety, in the early life growth of adipose tissue, and in endocrine interactions with weight and appetite regulation. We shall examine each of these areas in turn.

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Authors
  1. William S. Rea
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  2. Irl L. Extein
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ohio State University, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA

    A. James Giannini M.D. (Clinical Professor, Psychiatry) (Clinical Professor, Psychiatry)

  2. P.O. Box 2169, 44504, Youngstown, OH, USA

    A. James Giannini M.D. (Clinical Professor, Psychiatry) (Clinical Professor, Psychiatry)

  3. Regent Hospital, 425 E. 61th Street, 10021, New York, NY, USA

    Andrew E. Slaby M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H. (Medical Director) (Medical Director)

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© 1993 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

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Rea, W.S., Extein, I.L. (1993). Biological Factors in Obesity. In: Giannini, A.J., Slaby, A.E. (eds) The Eating Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8300-0_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8300-0_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-8302-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-8300-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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