SECONDARY OBESITY

Secondary obesity is less frequent than primary obesity but shows interesting aspects of pathogenetic mechanisms and possible therapeutic approaches for an improved management of obesity. Among polymalformative obesity, Prader Willi Syndrome is the most frequent and the best studied. Body composition analysis and energy metabolism evaluation seem to underline the important role of activity in preventing excessive weight gain. In addition new therapeutic success was gained by the use of biosynthetic GH in reducing body fat and improving fat free mass compartment. Endocrine obesity that follows hypothalamic hypophyseal lesions suggests the importance of neuroendocrine mechanisms in the regulation of appetite control and food intake. Overweight in diabetic adolescents, more evident in girls, outlines the need of a prevention through educational intervention in younger age groups. The increasing frequency of eating disorders among adolescents must be considered for prevention.