Why drugs? -- Some historical aspects of drug treatment for obesity -- Regulation of energy balance — towards rational drug design in obesity -- Intestinal lipase inhibitors -- Sibutramine -- The endocannabinoid system as a target for obesity treatment -- Using the body’s natural signals — gut hormones -- Influencing energy expenditure and substrate utilisation.

Obesity has become a major epidemic that now rivals smoking as a risk to public health. The ensuing epidemics of diabetes, vascular disease and other complications are set to overwhelm the healthcare systems of wealthy and poorer nations alike. The need for effective pharmacotherapy has never been greater. This book takes a new look at the many potential targets for drug development for regulation of body weight, placing them in the context of the chequered history of drug development for obesity and currently available therapies. Potential peripheral and central nervous system targets are discussed in detail by authors with extensive knowledge and research experience in the science of body weight regulation, and its translation into effective therapies that will benefit patients. This book is of interest to clinicians, researchers in the field and members of the pharmaceutical industry who are interested in learning more about the current state of the art and future directions in the pharmacotherapy of obesity.