Obesity: The global epidemic Obesity is a fast spreading metabolic disease of pandemic proportions whose prevalence has increased from 7% to a staggering 25% within the last three decades. Herein, severe obesity (BMI>40kg/m2) is seen to affect a massive 2.4% of the population and if current trends are any indication, by 2030 overweight and obese individuals will comprise 60% of the world’s population (Figure 1).1 This obesity epidemic is a result of complex interactions between genetics, epigenetics, cultural and environmental parameters and while growth trends in most developed countries seem to have leveled off, upsurge of morbid obesity in many of these countries still continues with children being no exception.1,2 In developing countries as well, obesity prevalence continues to trend upwards. The associated burden is profound, stemming from comorbidities, mortality risk, and economic costs incurred, with obesity known to increase the risk of major chronic conditions such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, and poor mental health while significantly impacting the risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease, and osteoarthritis.