According to recent research over one-half of all Americans are overweight or obese. 64 percent of adults are obese or overweight. Even more alarming, officials say the number of overweight and obese youth has nearly doubled in the past two decades, and data suggests the levels are still on the rise. As the problem got worse, a year ago the Bush administration announced a campaign to combat the epidemic of obesity in the United States through improved product labels, health education, and a cooperation with restaurants to help steer people toward healthier menu choices. If you are overweight or obese, carrying this extra weight puts you at risk for developing many diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer.

Severe overweight increases the risk for high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes and, hence, for diseases for which these conditions are risk factors. Obesity thus contributes to premature mortality. Of all obesity-related diseases, noninsulin dependent diabetes is most clearly and strongly associated with obesity.

Obesity is associated with too many adipose cells (hyperplastic obesity), adipose cells that are too large (hypertrophic obesity), or both. While changes in the size of adipose cells may occur at any age, the number of adult cells are fixed and determined by weight gain during certain periods of childhood development; fat cell numbers are established by late adolescence and, once established, does not decline.

Obesity is the net result of an excess of energy consumption over expenditure. Factors that must be considered as contributing to causation are: heredity, overeating, altered metabolism of adipose tissue, defective or decreased thermogenesis, decreased physical activity without an appropriate reduction in food intake, and certain prescribed medications.

Overeating is clearly a prominent contributor to obesity. Feeding behaviour occurs in response to hunger and to appetite induced by the presence of food. Satiety and the resulting cessation of eating occur in response to certain hormones, nervous impulses, and absorbed nutrients signalling the brain.

So overweight became a public enemy that most threatens our health. Nowadays, markets for diet supplements and weight-reducing drugs are increasing ever so big.

To loose weight, one must decrease caloric intake, increase caloric expenditure, or do both. Thus, the chief approaches to weight reduction involve behaviour change related to diet and exercise. Weight loss reduces health risks in the obese. Because obesity is a condition requiring continuous attention, any behaviour changes required to maintain weight loss must be life long. But how many of us are sticking to the new year's resolution to lose weight?

No miracle formula or 'super drug' can instantly make you slim. However people are showing more and more interest in Korean method to cure this stubborn disease. Korean medicine ; a custom-made therapy might be the key to the slimmer and healthier world.