Even if considerable resources have been used to fight the obesity epidemic we see in most countries the results have been disappointing. The only effective measure in the long run are changes in food intake and physical exercise, but a number of agents drugs or natural substances, are available to help in initiating weight reduction. These agents can be used in combination with sustained changes of food intake and exercise habits.

A balanced diet involves the balanced intake of carbohydrates, fat and proteins.
Carbohydrates generally represent about 55% of calorie intake, compared with 30%
as fat and only 12% as proteins. Nutritional experts recommend that the fat intake is restricted to less than 30% of the daily energy intake, in order to improve cardiovascular health and avoid weight problems. Carbohydrate intake should also be monitored. Where the level of carbohydrates exceeds the body’s requirements, insulin converts the carbohydrate into fat which leads to weight gain. Lack of physical exercise or activity adds to the problems associated with a high-calorie diet. Low –carbohydrate diets are restrictive in terms of food choices, are hard to manage and are inevitably hard to adhere to. Exercise, unless carried out regularly, has little effect on weight control (1-4). Thus there is a need for alternative means of weight control.