Abstract
The study and practice of obesity has expanded almost as rapidly as the prevalence of obesity. While ongoing hypothesis testing and interim research findings increase our general obesity knowledge, clinical practice and the public demand immediate answers and guidance with the best evidence of the moment. As we examine the effectiveness of obesity treatments, clinical practitioners continue to be challenged in choosing the best evidence to support their interventions. At the same time, both research questions and practical application of study findings are shaped within the psychological and social context of public concerns and interests, which are often fueled by the media and the marketplace.