Blass (psychology, neuroscience, and behavior, U. of Massachusetts, Amherst) presents 13 chapters by 31 contributors examining the causes and underlying mechanisms of obesity, and possible strategies for its prevention and better fitness. Coverage includes metabolic influences on the controls of meal size, obesity and addiction, sensory and hedonic comparisons, the development of eating behavior, learning and hedonic contributions, current perspectives and controversies concerning exercise for obesity treatment and prevention, built-environment influences on energy balance and body weight, the role of energy density of foods in the control of food intake, proposed modifications to the U.S. Food Stamp Program, and obesity and media use. Suitable as a student text and a reference for a broad range of academics, researchers, and professionals concerned with obesity trends in the U.S. Specific credentials of the contributing authors are not stated.