OM PRAKASH GARG
The word ’obese’ originated from the Latin language 'obesus' meaning 'to grow fatby eating' which is derived from the past participle of the verb ’obedere’ (ob-away;edere-to eat) ' to eat away'. Obesity, a body-weight disorder was generally defined asan accumulation of fat beyond that considered normal, for a person’s age, weight, sexand body type. Over the years the definition of obesity has undergone severalchanges. Initially, obesity was considered to be present when a subject was 30% ormore above his ideal weight (Silverstone, 1968) and later Wenar (1994) defined itsimplistically as excess body weight or more specifically as body weight greater than20% of normal weight for height.1,2 Obesity as a pathologic condition, characterizedby an accumulation of fat much in excess of that is necessary for optimal bodyfunctions.