**1. Introduction**

Obesity perception and management has undergone a paradigm shift in the last few decades. Our understanding of the complex factors and etiologies of obesity as a chronic illness, improvements in medical and surgical treatment options, and access to care have all made this possible. There are tremendous implications of obesity on individuals and society, including health systems and financial costs. Obesity alone accounts for nearly half of the \$3.3 trillion spent annually on medical care for chronic conditions. Obesity prevalence continues to increase globally. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence in the United States was 42.4% in 2017–2018 [1]. Worldwide, 39% of adults were overweight in 2016, and 13% were obese [2]. Notably, the worldwide obesity rate has tripled over the last 40 years. Obesity disproportionately affects different ethnic groups; nearly 50% of African American adults are obese.
