Overweight and obesity is a serious chronic disease. It can bring about many related chronic and wasting diseases, such as: diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, sleep apnea syndrome, and osteoarthritis. Extreme obesity is associated with a risk of shortened life expectancy. People who weigh more than 50% of their normal ideal weight are twice as likely to die prematurely. Obesity has become a social problem and a major public health issue worldwide. It is estimated that 300 million people worldwide are suffering from obesity according to European statistics: it is estimated that 135 million people suffer from obesity (BMI >30); 10-27% are men, up to 38% are women, and 24% of children are overweight. It is estimated that 6 million people suffer from morbid obesity (BMI >40). In the last 10 years, the number of overweight and obese people has increased by 10-40% in most European countries. Obesity is a matter of life and death; it can worsen health, reduce quality of life and shorten life expectancy. As BMI rises, the risk of premature death from a range of diseases increases. In Europe, 320,000 people die each year from diseases directly related to obesity. Recent studies have concluded that obesity in adults can cause a disease directly related to longevity, causing a reduction in life expectancy of approximately 7 years in both men and women.