**5. Combating obesity**

As the prevalence of obesity increases, the morbidity and mortality from obesity-related diseases (mainly cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and various cancers) also increase [9, 24–26]. Obesity and obesity-related morbidities require careful clinical assessment. Obesity-related health problems also increase the treatment cost and lead to financial and labor loss in society [27]. As an effective strategy to combating obesity, population-based, preventive, and sustainable public health approaches are necessary. Specialized public health strategies for the risk groups such as children, adolescent, low-educated, and disabled people are also important to reduce and prevent obesity. Obesity is preventable and health care professionals have an important role in preventing it. Aim of the health care policies is to increase the life expectancy and more qualified life span for human beings all over the world. Healthy and supportive environments are indispensable to combat obesity [28, 29]. Education is the most important step for challenging obesity. The training program should be implemented at every opportunity to effect people's choices, by making basic healthy life-style choices (i.e., regular physical activity, healthier foods, etc.). Lifestyle factors and personal responsibility are efficient to some degree to decrease the prevalence of obesity. However, more effective measures are required to cope with an epidemic of obesity at the societal level. Parents must be enlightened about obesity to prevent childhood obesity. Obese children mostly become obese adults. Healthier food choices are provided in school. Obesity awareness must be increased by educative programs (such as school-based education about nutrition and dietary guidelines) [30, 31]. The fundamental issue is to produce healthier and unprocessed foods for the growing world population. Food marketing and pricing policies should be changed in favor of the people, not the industry.
