Description

Obesity has become a major public health problem in many countries
including the United Kingdom. Recent estimates suggest that at least
over 30,000 deaths a year are caused by obesity in England alone. A
recent study by the National Audit Office estimated that the condition costs the
NHS 500 million a year. Adult obesity rates have tripled since 1982. Now
19% of Britons are obese and 39% are overweight. The number of obese
children has doubled since 1982. 10% of six year olds are obese, rising to 17%
of 15 year olds. Being very fat, or ‘obese’, is linked to many health problems
including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and arthritis. As the world population is
becoming fatter, some believe that we are in the grip of an obesity epidemic.
Obesity is a complex condition arising from an interaction between genetic and
environmental factors. In this issue of the Bulletin Dr Labib gives an overview
of the pathogenesis of obesity and discusses the consequences and management.
This article will be of interest to those involved in managing obesity and to
clinical scientists.

Psychiatry is not the first speciality which comes to mind of a clinical
biochemist. However, the clinical biochemistry laboratory has an important
part to play in the diagnosis and management of psychiatric patients. Laboratory
tests are required to exclude organic diseases which may give rise to symptoms
suggestive of psychiatric disorders. Laboratory tests are also required to monitor
patients on psychotropic drugs: to detect metabolic complications as well as for
therapeutic drug monitoring. Lithium is a simple example. A drug widely used
in psychiatry and requires regular monitoring. Metabolic complications of
lithium therapy include thyroid disorders and disorders of water balance, these
require laboratory tests to diagnose and manage. In the second article Drs
Livingstone and Rampes write about the role of the clinical biochemistry
laboratory in psychiatry.

Finally, we would like to invite readers to submit interesting case reports that
have a particular educational message. The Bulletin will become more lively
and interesting with more contribution from readers.