Until recently, obesity was a public health problem only in Western countries. However, over the past two decades, it has become truly a global problem—a “globesity epidemic,” as some have called it—affecting countries rich and poor. An estimated 500 million adults worldwide are obese and 1.5 billion are overweight or obese. And, if recent trends continue unabated, nearly 60 percent of the world’s population—3.3 billion people—could be overweight (2.2 billion) or obese (1.1 billion) by 2030. In this Symposium (the first of a series devoted to obesity), world renown, topflight experts will discuss the metabolic and digestive consequences of obesity and will set-up key strategies for preventing and treating this worldwide epidemic. Because of its major impact and its high educational formula, this Congress represents a unique opportunity to update your knowledge in the rapidly evolving field of globesity. We hope to have the chance of gathering established and young investigators from all over the World in what we feel will be a stimulating experience. We also hope it may encourage friendship, mutual knowledge and cooperation going beyond the limits of the meeting itself.