obesity, and no exact cause for the disorder has been proven. The nature side, or genetic susceptibility, may account for 40 to 70% of the problem of obesity (Gullotta et al., 1999). Although these numbers are high, many researchers claim that North Americans weight gain is related to lower levels of physical activity and increased consumption of energy dense foods (Gullotta et al., 1999). Contrary to popular belief, dieting may actually promote weight gain especially in adolescence because it tends to lead to binge eating and overeating to compensate for the constant feeling of hunger while dieting (Cameron et al., 1999). Adolescence has been said to be the most crucial time because it is when the individual is the most self-focused, thinking that one must have an ideal body to fit in with peers. This creates a sense of low self-esteem that results in dieting, and gaining weight since they are not physically developed (Cameron et al., 1999).
             Adolescence is characterized by important changes and processes connected with the development of identity, by processes of separation and individuation from parental figures. Obesity upsets the family organization as a whole (Valtolina & Marta, 1998). The family plays two functions in the process of obesity in the adolescent.
             First, the family attitudes and parenting styles can affect a child's eating behaviour. The families of obese adolescents are described as less cohesive, more conflicted, less interested in social and cultural activities, and less organized than families with normal-weight children (Valtolina & Marta, 1998). Due to the lack of social and cultural activities, obese children tend to show signs of show insecurity, social withdrawal, anxiety, and shame. As a consequence, obese adolescents are incompetent in social contexts, lack drive, and do not perform adequately outside the protective "family circle" (leading to peer problems). In this type of f...