Overweight and obesity conditions is increasing to epidemic proportions approximately world-wide, and is largely influenced by psychosocial factors predisposing excessive energy intakes and reduced energy expenditure, in recent decades as compared with previous. There are significant acute and chronic psychosocial health consequences associated with obesity, warranting public health initiatives to prevent further increases in its prevalence.

Obesity is a condition of measured excess adipose tissue associated with adverse health outcomes (Pi-Sunyer 2000; Troiano & Flegal, 1998) An International Obesity Task Force workshop (Bellizzi & Dietz, 1999) and the NHMRC of Australia (1997) have recommended the use of BMI (kg/m2) for age reference centiles as the most simple and reasonable clarification of obesity.

Experts on obesity have consistently sought an internationally acceptable consensus measurement criteria and definition (Bellizzi & Dietz, 1999). In response, Cole and Colleagues (2000) have developed and published reference charts based on population data from six different countries. These values were statistically

Body Display Phobia may be conventionalized as a form of social phobia. It is a fundamental cause of inactivity, as patients are reluctant to participate in a group exercise or be seen publicly in exercise cloths.

Binge Eating Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa. Binge eating is a form of abnormal eating behavior not yet officially recognized as an eating disorder. However, it is seen in 20 – 30 % of obese patients seeking treatment. (NHMRC 1997) It is generally understood as, “the consumption of large quantities of food in a discrete period of time and associated with a sense of loss of control”. It is usually ended only by feelings of nausea or running out of food, and is often followed by negative emotion including, guilt, shame, sadness or anxiety. The anxiety experienced after a binge may trigger a compensatory purge. Purging behaviors include vomiting, laxative or diuretic use or compulsive exercise. Often binge eating and purging, by virtue of their ability to stimulate endogenous opiates and dopamine, alleviate the negative emotion of the recent bout of overeating and return the patient to some form of emotional baseline. (Blundell & Lawton, 1993) This process can become habit forming.

Obesity results from an imbalance in energy intake as compared with expenditure, with one or both of diet or physical activities therefore being major proximate determinants (Popkin & Doak 1998). Over-consumption of energy dense and high fat foods with weak satiety value is considered a predisposing factor to obesity (Birch & Fischer 1998; NHMRC 1997). Over ¼ of Australians reported consuming high sugar / fat meals and snacks (such as pastries, cakes, sweet biscuits, confectionary, high-fat fast food, ice-cream and soft-drinks) in total representing on average 1/3 of their fat intake and ¼ of their energy intake (ABS 1997, 1998 & 1999). This intake is in direct contravention to the Dietary Guidelines and The Australian Guide the Healthy eating, and may be a contributing factor to the displacement of healthy meals and snacks based on nutritious cereal products, vegetables and fruit in particular (ABS 1997). However, the most recent national estimates of mean fat intake (33% of energy consumption) approximate the national dietary guidelines recommendations (30-35% dependent on age) and have remained relatively unchanged, if not slightly decreased, over a ten-year period (ABS 1997). This

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