Among the host of health hazards faced by the modern society, obesity has become a matter of deep concern. Excessive fat or overweight body not only reduces one's physical beauty and gives a funny appearance, but at times it also hampers one's alacrity and work efficiency. Overweight people feel tired and start panting after a little hard work. More severe are the negative effects of extra fat upon the tiny arteries and blood vessels. Obesity increases the chances of high blood pressure, hypertension, diabetes, asthma, cardiac problems - with high risk of sudden heart-attack or even failure of heart because of arterial block, restlessness, insomnia, hormonal disorders, osteoporosis and related problems of weakening of the bones and the joints, physical disability, etc.

Thus, not only the appearance-conscious or smart people, but also those who care for health and fitness are always keen to maintain their body-weight within healthy limits and try to turn to expensive gymnasiums, diet courses, aerobic exercises and what not. In spite of growing trends of fashionable looks and slim bodies and also of health-awareness, the number of over-weight people and fat-driven diseases is increasing, especially in the urban societies and developed countries. Earlier the over-weight people used to be usually the adults after a certain age. Fatty heftiness was seen rarely among the youths and children and it was mostly because of hereditary factors or utterly lavish eating since childhood. However, these days the incidence of this abnormality seems to have risen in people of all age groups. According to a clinical survey report of 1997, over 30 crore people below 65 years of age are suffering from high obesity throughout the world.

These days many kids are also found suffering from this abnormality. This is because of excessive use of soda-bicarbonate-made cold drinks, and eatables like chocolates, pastries, and cheese. It is also found to be a congenital abnormality because of the chemically synthesized vitamins and medicines consumed by the mother during pregnancy. Youths, who have a stressful routine, are also found having fat on their tummies and the cases of coronary arterial blocks are rising alarmingly among the urban youths in the young age-group 30-45. Comfort based lifestyle, wrong eating and drinking habits, less nourishing but high calorie artificial foods, side effects of medicines, hormonal disturbances, etc are also responsible for this hidden hazard.