Obesity is perhaps the most mistreated medical condition in the western world where around half the population is overweight with a staggering 25% or thereabouts clinically obese. Yet individuals seeking help through the normal channels are likely to be told to either "get some exercise" or "go on a diet" with little other practical help. If we look at the popular programmes currently available, it is apparent that there is a "one treatment suits all" ethos which disregards the needs and underlying physiological causes of obesity in different individuals. The failure rate for diets is dramatic. More people regain their lost weight (and often more besides) than end up with a genuine weight loss.

Weight loss is big business - arguably the biggest health related business in the Western world.
Obesity is a long term problem and unless addressed from a clinical view with permanent changes, weight will always come back on. A more successful approach is to use drugs, though there has been adverse publicity surrounding rogue clinics prescribing them to people who plainly didn't need them. On top of this, people may become dependent on drugs to control weight rather than being re-educated.